SEDALIA - Jefferson City was finally getting it together.
The Jays stopped turning the ball over and started getting stops while erasing an early eight-point deficit. Then Douglas Johnson happened.
Johnson, the son of Hickman coach David Johnson and a seldom used sophomore guard, entering the game for the first time with less than two minutes to play before halftime, connected on four straight 3-pointers to turn a tight ball game into a 14-point halftime lead for the Kewpies.
Jefferson City never recovered in a 74-60 loss to Hickman in the semifinals of the Class 5 District 9 Tournament on Wednesday night at Sedalia Smith-Cotton.
The Jays end the season at 7-18. Hickman (15-10) advances to play Rock Bridge in the district title game at 7:45 p.m. Friday at Sedalia Smith-Cotton.
"Again, something that's been showing up, the little run right before half probably cost us the game," Jefferson City coach Blair Thompson said. "We had some defensive mishaps and missed assignments, and left some shooters that we weren't supposed to and we paid the price for it."