As the winter sports season began, the sports of basketball and wrestling each set their sights on being among the leading teams in the region and striving for berths in state competition.
Wrestling
It was a new era for Jones County wrestling, with former assistant coach Adam Gillhouse at the helm as head coach. Not shying from competition, the Hounds took on opposition in tournaments in both south Georgia and the Atlanta area in addition to hosting their own tournament, an event that energized both the wrestlers and the community.
In duals competition, Jones County qualified for the Elite Eight, placing it among the state’s top eight teams.
Following team duals, the Greyhounds then turned to individual competition, where multiple wrestlers advanced to the traditional state tournament where Bryce Boland placed third. Other state qualifiers were Tobias Clements, James Rackley and Marquez Hunt.
Between the team as a whole getting a taste of state duals and a handful of others getting an initial first look as part of state competition, this is a team that should be hungry as the offseason goes on.
Boys Basketball
Each year, at least one team from Jones County’s region makes a deep postseason run, underscoring how there is no such thing as an off night in the Greyhounds region.
That played true again this year, with Eagles Landing being state runner-up. In the middle of all that, the Greyhounds, despite some midseason attrition, persevered, getting in position for a state tournament berth only to fall agonizingly close in an overtime loss in the region tournament. That followed a late-season run in which the Greyhounds won four of five games, the loss being to Eagles Landing.
Jones County, which ended its season with a record of 15-10, adapted to some midseason adversity, putting the offensive load more in the hands of Jaylen Sanford and with Daethan Harris and Geo Wade shouldering more of a scoring presence. Matt Wold’s physical play was also a key part of the Greyhounds efforts.
With Sanford, Wade and Harris primed to return, the Greyhounds should be well in place to aim for a state tournament berth next year within a region that’ll be even more ambitious with the addition of Warner Robins.
Girls Basketball
Absent of their leading scorer from the season before, the Lady Greyhounds battled inexperience and injuries from the start of the season.
Fighting through hills and valleys, the Lady Hounds battled through earlyseason tournaments and into region play. And by the end of regular season play, buoyed by contributors from across the lineup, JCHS found a way to play its best basketball when it mattered most as the likes of Shakiya Betha, Amaris Ridgeway, Shania Bryant and Carlie Skinner stepped up.
A three-game winning streak was capped by a gritty region tournament win against Dutchtown that sent the Lady Hounds to the region semifinals and earned a return trip to the state tournament.
Hopes should be high for this squad next year with just one player graduating.
Literary finishes second in region
Jones County finished second in the region literary meet with two individuals and one group of three advancing to state competition.
Winning first place were Tyra Hill in dramatic monologue, Genesis Price in Extemporaneous Speaking (International) and first place in girls trio going to Neveah Johnson, Bethany Tapee and Paige Pieterick.
Jones County’s outstanding showing was hardly limited to the first-place winners with eight more having finishes of third or better. Finishing second were Akayla Moss in comedic monologue and Mason Leavins in informational essay while the men’s quartet comprised of Elijah Rutledge, Ethan Kitchens, Gavin Ward and Isaiah Hollings was also second.
Finishing third was Kemper Blair in rhetorical essay, Ellie Brown in narrative essay, Makayla Ivey and Tamia Mack in duologue, Ethan Kitchens in boys solo, and Pieterick in girls solo. Madison Banks was also among the top performers in extemporaneous speaking (domestic), finishing fourth.
