Published: January 19, 2008 03:07 pm      

Jackson lifts Wildcats over Fairfield

By SCOTT TYLER

H-P Sports Editor



Palestine’s Larry Jackson had four stitches in his chin and a cut lip, but none of that seemed to have an effect on the Wildcat senior.

Jackson scored 37 points, including 12 in the fourth quarter, as the Wildcats rallied for a 65-58 win over Fairfield Friday night.

The big night came a day after Jackson had to get four stitches on his chin when he ran into a teammate during practice. With his chin taped up, Jackson then suffered a cut lip during the game Friday night.

“I was going to do whatever I could to help us win tonight,” Jackson said. “I am proud of the way the team came together tonight.”

The win was critical for Palestine (1-2, 11-9) after starting district with two straight losses.

“We looked at this game as a must-win,” Palestine head coach Craig Wilson said. “This gets us back into the district race.”

Three games into district play and Palestine and Fairfield (1-2, 18-5) are in a four-way tie for third place with Westwood and Groesbeck. Madisonville leads the district at 3-0 and Mexia is 2-1.

Fairfield, who had a 14-point lead in the first half, led 53-46 halfway through the fourth quarter when Josh Lynch had a layup followed by a Willie Tatum steal and basket.

Palestine scored seven of the next eight points, including four straight by Jackson. Palestine cut the lead to 54-53 on Jeremy White’s three pointer.

Fairfield responded with a layup by Eric Palmer to give the Eagles a 56-53 lead.

Jackson got the deficit back to one point when he put back his own shot. Palestine took the lead as Jeffrey Strain got a defensive rebound and quickly fed the ball upcourt to C.A. Mims, who was fouled on the made layup. Mims made his free throw to give Palestine a 58-56 lead.

With 1:34 remaining, Fairfield tied the game on Chris Jones’ 10-foot jumper, but it would be the last time the Eagles scored.

On Palestine’s next possession, White was fouled going to the basket. He missed both free throws, but on the second attempt, Jackson got the rebound and the putback to give Palestine a 60-58 lead.

“With it being a tied game, I just knew I had to get the rebound,” Jackson said. “I fought as hard as I could for it.”

Jackson, who finished with 15 rebounds, had 19 second-half points.

“Larry just took the game over,” Wilson said. “We talked before tonight how he was going to have to put us on his back and he stepped up and did a great job.”

After a Fairfield miss, Palestine extended the lead with a free throw by Jackson, who was 11-of-13 from the line, and two more free throws by Mims, who had 11 points.

“We have really made an improvement in our free-throw shooting,” Wilson said.

Palestine sealed the win when Strain picked off a pass and went the length of the court for the layup.

The Wildcats defense held Fairfield to 22 second-half points after allowing 21 points in the first quarter and 36 points in the first half.

“We changed to a man defense in the second half and our defense played real hard,” Wilson said.

A week after struggling from the outside in a loss to Madisonville, Palestine made eight three pointers, including three by Jackson and two by Mims.

Palmer had a trio of three pointers for Fairfield and finished with 15 points. Tatum led the Eagles with 17 points.

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Scott Tyler may be contacted via e-mail at styler@palestineherald.com



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