It was three road losses to arguably their three biggest big rivals, and it's hard to figure out which was the worst --- a four-point loss to four-win Hickman; a 62-31 blowout loss to powerful Blair Oaks; or losing to rival No. 1, Helias, for the third time this season --- and when the Jays held a 22-point lead in the second half.

Ouch.

But Saturday's affair should help the spirits, that's what winning does, as the Jays outscored the Poplar Bluff Mules 26-14 in the fourth quarter to pull away for a 71-57 win on Senior Day at Fleming Fieldhouse.

"Anytime you drop a couple games like we did, getting a win is always nice," first-year Jays coach Tony Phillips said. "Especially since I thought we made improvement from the last game.

"I'm proud of the kids the way they responded."

Phillips is striving to provide stability to a program that's only had three winning seasons the last 10 years, and that's now had three head coaches in four years.

"I have a remarkable group of seniors, they've been through a lot the last four years," Phillips said. "But they believe in me and they respond to me."

After the last three games, that's easier said than done.

"That loss to Helias," Phillips said, "was the worst of the three and Blair Oaks was probably second. Even though they're really good, we shouldn't travel 10 minutes and get only 31 points. We just shot it terrible that night, we didn't do a good job against the Northweathers, and we got drilled.

"And against Hickman, it was a couple of mistakes late."

On this day, however, the Jays did what needed to be done, late, to prevail.

This was a rematch of the 1993 state championship game, when the Monte Hardge-led Jays won the program's only state championship with a 60-56 win over the Mules. The glitter certainly wasn't the same Saturday, as both teams entered the day below .500.

The Mules (7-15) scored the last six points of the first quarter to take a 16-15 lead, and held a 30-28 halftime lead when Joseph Hardiman drained a 3-pointer at the buzzer.

The Jays (10-11) gained a 45-43 edge after three quarters and would lead the rest of the way. The margin grew comfortable early in the fourth when the Jays used a 7-0 run --- a surge started on a 3-pointer by senior Brennan Jeffries' 3 and ended on a follow shot senior Chris Helming --- to make it 52-43 with six minutes left.

Jefferson City then salted it away by hitting eight of nine free throws down the stretch.

"We are," Phillips said, "a really good free throw shooting team."

That's no exaggeration. The Jays are on pace to set the school record, as they're shooting a blistering 80 from the line as a team.

On a day to recognize the team's eight seniors, Jeffries --- a four-year starter who tallied 17 points, 13 of those in the second half -- was honored before the game for scoring his 1,000th career point Tuesday night.

"He works so hard on his game, so I'm really happy he could reach that milestone," Phillips said.

Another senior, Kaidyn Johnson, scored all 10 of his points in the first half, while Helming added eight points. But the leading scorer was a junior, 6-3 Sterling Desha, who continued his solid season with 23 points.

"He's a very reserved young man," said Phillips, whose team ends the regular season with home games against Parkview on Monday night and Rockhurst on Friday night. "Sometimes I have to get on him, because he doesn't realize how good he can be.

"And he has another year to continue to grow and get better."

Likewise, Phillips firmly believes the best is yet to come for the Jays this season.

"We can play with anybody if we do the little things and if we play for four quarters, but we've got to bring it every single possession," he said. "If we do that, we can win the district championship."

Central Bank Shootout:

A full day of basketball

on Super Saturday