PERRYVILLE TOURNAMENT: JACKSON HIGH SCHOOL INDIANS EKE OUT WIN OVER PERRYVILLE

PERRYVILLE -- The Perryville High boys basketball tournament finally got under way Tuesday night. Action featured one blowout and one down-to-the-wire thriller.

Second-seeded and undefeated Festus opened play by pounding Meadow Heights 81-47. Then fourth-seeded Jackson slipped past host Perryville 52-50.

More first-round action will be held tonight when the teams that were originally scheduled to play Monday square off. The tourney was postponed Monday night due to poor road conditions.

Tonight's games have third-seeded Sikeston facing Notre Dame at 6 p.m. and top-seeded Cape Central taking on St. Vincent at 7:30.

Jackson 52, Perryville 50

Jackson built up a 42-31 lead after three quarters and then held on down the stretch.

Perryville charged back and even had a chance to win in the closing seconds but Jason Rodewald's three-point attempt was off the mark at the buzzer.

"It was a very good game," said Perryville coach Chris Kusnerick. "We just couldn't get over the hump at the end. Jason had a pretty good shot but it just wouldn't fall."

Jackson raised its record to 9-4. The Indians got a big game from 6-foot-4 sophomore Mark Kiehne, who scored 18 points. Paul Laurentius added 11.

"Kiehne got on the boards and did a good job. He got some stickbacks and we got him the ball," said Jackson coach Steve Burk. "Craig Clippard also played well. He had six assists and three steals and I thought he played one of his better games of the season."

Perryville, which fell to 6-5, was paced by senior standout Steve Eggemeyer's 25 points. Chris Wibbenmeyer scored 10.

The Indians, who led 26-20 at halftime, outscored Perryville 16-11 in the third quarter. But Jackson was hurt by some crucial missed free throws in the final period. for the game, the Indians were just 14 of 29 from the foul line.

"We had a little trouble at the line and Perryville really battled back well," Burk said. "But I was pleased with how hard we played. That's something we need to keep doing."

Said Kusnerick, "The effort was there but we just couldn't quite get it done."

Festus 81, Meadow Heights 47

The Tigers raised their record to 9-0 as they breezed to victory by jumping out to a 26-7 lead after the first quarter. It was 46-20 at halftime and 69-31 entering the final period.

Jim Jones led Festus with 14 points. Roger James and Jason Smith each scored 12.

Meadow Heights, now 4-7, got 19 points from Kevin Garland and 17 from Justin Conrad.

Perryville Boys Tournament

First Round

FESTUS 81, MEADOW HEIGHTS 47

FESTUS 26 20 23 12 - 81

MEADOW HEIGHTS 7 13 11 16 - 47

FESTUS (81)

Lucas 5, James 12, Smith 12, Jamison 9, Mouser 2, Joe Jones 9, Jim Jones 14, Dunbar 6, Frazier 4, Mayes 6, Underwood 2. FG 34 FT 7-16 F 22. (3-pointers: James 2, Smith 1, Jamison 1, Mayes 2. Fouled out: none)

MEADOW HEIGHTS (47)

B. Barks 3, C. Conrad 4, J. Conrad 17, Garland 19, C. Barks 2, Hartjie 2. FG 16 FT 12-24 F 10 (3-pointers: J. Conrad 1, Garland 2. Fouled out: none)

JACKSON 52, PERRYVILLE 50

JACKSON 12 14 16 10 - 52

PERRYVILLE 6 14 11 19 - 50

JACKSON (52)

Gentry 4, Thoma 4, Laurentius 11, Morrow 3, Clippard 2, Hope 3, Kiehne 18, Strong 7. FG 19 FT 14-29 F 9 (3-pointers: none. Fouled out: none)

PERRYVILLE (50)

Weinkein 2, Brown 2, Rodewald 9, Wibbenmeyer 10, Eggemeyer 25, Hummer 2. FG 20 FT 7-8 F 20. (3-pointers: Rodewald 1, Eggemeyer 2. Fouled out: Weinkein)