Jones County’s boys nearly stole the game with a furious fourth quarter rally, but then they gave it back with a pair of turnovers in the closing seconds.

So the Greyhounds’ first trip to the state playoffs in a decade turned out, unfortunately, the same as their last – with a loss in the opening round to end their season.

Jones County rallied from a 12-point deficit in the final 3:30 to take a four-point lead with 41.8 seconds to play. But taking advantage of the two turnovers, Richmond Hill mounted its own rally to score the game’s final six points and advance with a 63-61 victory last Wednesday night in Gray.

The Greyhounds, led by Jarquez Smith with 22 points, finished the season at 17-11.

“We know looking at ourselves that we didn’t play as hard and well as we needed for three quarters, and when you get to the playoffs you can’t wait to win it in the last quarter,” a disappointed Jones County coach Dennis Woolfolk said.

The Greyhounds built a quick 13-6 lead but the Wildcats fought back to cut the lead to 16-12 by the end of the first quarter. The visitors continued to charge in the second period, taking a couple of brief two-point leads before the Greyhounds pulled even 28-28 just before halftime.

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