Undermanned Jackson gets defensive in win over Poplar Bluff

Jackson's Hannah Shinn (25) tries to block a shot from Poplar Bluff's Kiley Bess (2) during the SEMO Conference Tournament semifinal game Tuesday at Cape Central High School.

Tyler Graef ~ Southeast Missourian

The Jackson girl’s basketball squad had two issues to deal with in its SEMO Conference Tournament semifinal against Poplar Bluff Tuesday at Cape Girardeau Central.

The Indians not only had to figure out how to contain Mules’ sensation Kiley Bess, but they also had to handle the Mules’ defensive pressure without the services of starting point guard Olivia Ward, who missed the game with the flu.

Indian fans can check both boxes, as Jackson improved to 3-0 with a 45-35 victory.

“We did a good job tonight of talking, veteran Jackson coach Tyler Abernathy said of his team’s defense. “When you talk you are anticipating well, you are in the right spot, and also Poplar Bluff missed some shots that they usually make.”

Bess finished with 14 points but did miss some shots she is comfortable in taking, as she and her teammates navigated a match-up zone that caused the Mules (2-1) fits all night.

“Jackson does a really good job with that match-up,” Poplar Bluff coach John David Portillo said. “They really made it tough on us.”

Mule junior Sierra Sievers hit a free throw early in the third quarter to tie the game at 18, but the Indians (3-0) responded with an 8-0 run to stretch their margin to 26-18, the final points coming in transition by junior guard Kate Emmendorfer.

“Kate did a great job handling the ball tonight,” Abernathy said. “As a team, I was really proud of how we took ownership of the situation.”

The Mules bounced back with a 5-2 run courtesy of junior Emma Johnson, who had a drive and a 3-pointer at the buzzer to cut her team’s deficit to 28-23 entering the final quarter.

“Jackson just outplayed us,” Portillo said. “That is what it came down to. They outrebounded us. They outworked us. Our kids played hard, but we have to rebound better.”

Holding a 32-27 lead with 5:42 left in the game, Bess committed an offensive foul (her fourth foul) to stymie some Mule momentum.

Jackson junior Hannah Shinn took a pass on a break from Emmendorfer and laid it in for a 34-27 lead before Madison Lambert hit a pair of free throws for a 36-27 score and the Indians were never seriously threatened again.

Sievers finished with seven points, while Hannah Corcimiglia and Emma Johnson chipped in five apiece.

Lambert paced Jackson with 16 points, while Piper Guilliams added 12 in the win.

Emmendorfer added nine.

The Indians will face Notre Dame in the championship game Thursday at 8:30 p.m., while Poplar Bluff will battle Saxony Lutheran Thursday at 7 p.m. for third place.

“Poplar Bluff is a good basketball team,” Abernathy said. “They have some good shooters, but that is sometimes how basketball goes.”