GAME 3: Jackson 65, Chaffee 42

By Rachel Crader ~ Special to Semoball.com

With less than 3 minutes remaining in the first half of their first round game at the Southeast Missourian Christmas Tournament, the No. 3 seed Jackson Indians were tied 24-24 with No. 14 Chaffee.

After an 8-0 run to end the first half, Jackson coach Darrin Scott had a simple message for his team in the locker room.

"We just told them they needed to start playing better, playing harder," Scott said, perhaps oversimplifying a problem his team has faced all season.

"I just think we weren't focused and ready to play. They've just got to a better job of themselves -- making sure that they're ready to play and understanding that they need to show up ready to play," Scott added. "We've had some games where we weren't focused at the start, and this was a game that typifies that."

The Indians were able to methodically pulled away from Chaffee in the second half and won 65-42.

Still, Jackson was slow to emerge from the locker room after the victory and quick to criticize its play.

"Not to take anything away from (Chaffee), they played hard and they had a good first half, but we need to, as a team, start coming out harder," said senior Marcus Harris.

Sophomore Zach McDowell led Jackson with 14 points, and both Harris and Lucas Davis scored 12.

McDowell, whose experience in the Christmas Tournament entering Friday's game was limited to warming up with last year's championship team, said Jackson plans to practice Saturday morning before its next game, just as it did Friday.

"I think we'll fix it in the morning tomorrow and come out tomorrow night and we'll play better," McDowell said.

The Indians will meet either Leopoold, which is 5-0 and has the No. 6 seed, or No. 11 Oran.

Trenton Horman and Taimen Taylor each scored 12 points for Chaffee.

CHAFFEE (42) -- Trenton Horman 12, Michael Rutherford 8, Taimen Taylor 12, Nathan Cicardi 2, Collin Dannenmueller 8. FG 15, FT 11-14, F 15. (3-pointers: Rutherford 1. Fouled out: none.)

JACKSON (65) -- Taylor Williams 2, Marcus Harris 12, Holt Walker 2, Cody Green 2, Andrew Shrum 6, Lucas Davis 12, Zach McDowell 14, Eli Gohn 8, Bobby Clark 7. FG 29, FT 5-11, F 13. (3-pointers: Harris 1, McDowell 1. Fouled out: none.)