By Michael Lindsay
The Jackson County Blue Devils wrapped up their 2022-’23 season in the Region 3-2A semifinals Tuesday evening as they fell to District 6-2A champion Watertown, 34-31.
Jackson County finished the season 20-9 overall and was the District 5-2A runner-up before falling to Watertown in the region semifinals. The Purple Tigers are on a Cinderella run as they are 12-19 overall and went winless in regular-season district play before winning their district tournament over Westmoreland.
Jackson County took an 11-5 lead with 6:59 remaining in the second period via back-to-back Kendrick Brown baskets. The Blue Devils pushed their lead to 15-7 with 1:35 left until halftime via a Waylon Kennedy basket, sending Jackson County to the locker room with an 8-point advantage.
The Blue Devils held an 18-12 lead with 1:53 left in the third period before Watertown closed the fame on an 8-2 run to tie the game at 20 going into the fourth quarter.
The Purple Tigers sank a three-pointer with 5:45 left in the fourth to go up 23-20. Jackson County scored their first point of the fourth quarter with 3:14 remaining via a free throw to cut Watertown’s lead to 23-21.
Watertown kept control of the game as they pushed their lead out to 28-23 with 1:48 left. Jackson County responded with a Brown and-one with 55 seconds left to pull within 2 points (28-26).
Watertown sank two free throws with 45 seconds left to go up two possessions (30-26) before a Hayden Stacy three-pointer with 32 seconds remaining brought Jackson County within one point, 30-29.
The teams traded empty possessions before the Purple Tigers tacked on another free throw with 15 seconds left to take a 31-29 lead.
Jackson County finally caught Watertown with 4.2 seconds left as Stacy finished a layup to tie the game at 31.
A foul call on the ensuing possession put Watertown at the free-throw line with 1.4 seconds left, where they made one to go ahead 32-31.
Following the free throw, a technical on Jackson County gave the Purple Tigers two more free throw attempts and possession of the ball. Watertown sank both and held on to win by a 34-31 final score.
Tuesday’s game was the finale for four Jackson County seniors Jordan Arroyo, Waylon Kennedy, Hayden Stacy, Alex Johnson and District 5-2A MVP Kendrick Brown.
