EAST Jackson coach Brian Turner didn’t think a postgame meeting in the locker room was even warranted.
Feeling his players had sufficiently left everything out on the floor in an 82-80 double overtime loss Saturday to crosstown rival Commerce, he released his squad to go home early.
“I told the kids that I didn’t have anything to say,” Turner said. “They played their butts off. Hopefully, this is maybe a little wake up call for us.”
East Jackson’s Jon Heu missed a half-court desperation heave that bounced off the back iron as the final buzzer sounded, ending a chaotic night at the Eagles’ gym in a rematch of these non-region foes.
East Jackson let a 16-point lead slip by the wayside during regulation but battled to force a second overtime in hopes of ending a nine-game losing streak.
“We talked right before the game (and said) this is when we need to start playing our best,” said Turner, whose team is still searching for its first win since Dec. 30. “I really thought that this was one of our best efforts all year, by far.”
East Jackson (4-18) faces Jackson County (Friday) and Jefferson (Saturday) this weekend.
Sophomore Jarron Davis led East Jackson with a season-high 28 points against Commerce (12-8) including four three-pointers.
“He stepped up and hit some big shots for us,” Turner said.
Davis found himself in a scoring dual all night with Commerce’s Thomas McMillan, who poured in 27 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter. Tiger outside shooting specialist Jonathan Book also stepped up big with six three-pointers in a 23-point performance.
“He did a good job, and we lost coverage on him a couple of times,” Turner said of Book. “We didn’t want him or no. 1 (McMillan) to get any open looks. We gave them a few and then they hit some, too.”
Then again, so did East Jackson.
Davis’ jumper with 10 seconds left in the first overtime tied the contest at 73 and forced double overtime.
Hue hit a basket and later a free throw in the second overtime to give East Jackson a 78-76 lead with 1:05 left, but as was the case all evening, Commerce answered.
The Tiger’s Tyre Treadwell completed a traditional three-point play with 56 seconds left to put the Tigers ahead 79-78. Chase Klugh, who finished with 11 points, tacked on a pair of free throws with 13 seconds left to push the lead out to 81-78.
Heu settled for a short jumper instead of a three-pointer on East Jackson’s next trip down the floor, cutting the lead to 81-80. The Eagles fouled with just two seconds left and Klugh hit one of two free throws. Heu had just enough time to dribble past the half court line to let his final attempt fly.
“It would have exploded (if it went in),” Turner said of the Eagle gym.
East Jackson was down to just one starter by the end of the second overtime period with three fouling out (Casey Reed, Nathan Crumley and Davis) and another injured (Jake Grindle).
Following the game, Turner pointed to the free throw disparity between the teams as Commerce owned a decided advantage at the charity stripe.
“When the fouls are 30-something to nine, and you don’t even get in a double bonus in a double overtime game, I know we’re not supposed to talk about the officials but that’s awful,” Turner said.
The Eagles led Commerce for much of regulation.
East Jackson — which watched a 16-point second quarter lead dwindle to four by halftime — entered the fourth quarter up 53-44. But Commerce reeled off a 9-2 run to pull within two, and the lead changed four times within the last 1:20 of regulation. The Eagles pulled ahead 67-66 after a layup from Crumley with 24 seconds left but Commerce’s Robert Hayes tied the game with a free throw with 11 seconds left. Hayes finished with 11 points.
Crumley finished with 14 points for East Jackson, including four three-pointers. Reed added 11 and Grindle had 10.
