Jefferson City takes second place at MSHSAA Show-Me Showdown, best finish since 1993

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Despite falling just one game short of its second state championship win in program history, Jefferson City Boys Basketball did capture its best finish to a season in more than three decades on Thursday night. The Jays lost to De Smet Jesuit 75-56 in the MSHSAA Class 5 State Championship, earning second place.

The Spartans started this game on a 15-3 scoring run, hitting five consecutive three-pointers. Soon after, the Jays rallied to post a quick 8-0 scoring run of their own in the opening quarter but were never able to take the lead away from the Spartans. De Smet Jesuit outscored Jefferson City 42-24 in the first half, leading to a 19-point win and the Spartans' sixth state championship win in program history.

Jordan Martin scored a game-high 23 points for Jefferson City and hit 9 of his 13 shots from the field. Rowen Buffington also finished the contest in double figures, scoring 12 points.

As a team, the Jays recorded a 43.9% field goal percentage while the Spartans hit more than 60% of their shots from the floor. De Smet Jesuit also connected on 11 of its 17 three-pointers in the game.

This is just the third time in program history that Jefferson City has finished the state tournament in second place or better.