If there was ever a week of basketball with a bit of everything, last week was it for the Greyhounds. On Tuesday, Jones County got its first win of the season, claiming a 58-54 win at Warner Robins. On Saturday afternoon, with one of their key players, Rudy Bowden, out with an injury, JCHS fell 74-53 to Kendrick.
“We’re already young, so when you lose some senior depth, it’s really going to show at times,” Dupree said. “We’ll get good experience from that and will need those guys more down the road, so we’re choosing to take the positive on it. But it’s a lot different without Rudy.”
The Greyhounds trailed 19-7 early but steadily fought back, drawing to 11 points behind in the fourth quarter before the Cherokees pulled away for the win during a game in which Justin Ray led JCHS with 18 points and 10 were added by Jaiden Bond and 8 from KJ Gray.
Contributions from the likes of Bond and Gray may be magnified going forward with Bowden’s injury given that he’s not only one of the Greyhounds’ three seniors but also has a high level of experience to boot. Freshman Tanner Pritchett, who also provides depth off the bench in the paint, is also sidelined with an injury.
“We’re definitely anxious to get those guys back,” Dupree said.
But if there is a cinder block of a win to build off of, Tuesday was one of those for the Greyhounds, who drilled a combined nine three-pointers.
Jones County stood its ground after trailing by six points early, closing the gap to a 27-26 deficit at halftime. Then, finding themselves in a position to win entering the final quarter down 43-42, the Greyhounds did enough to force overtime, going on to get the win at the gym on Davis Drive.
“That was a big win. We have to be sure not to get too high or too low,” Dupree said. “Our job is not to be undefeated but to be top four in the region. We’re still on that trajectory.”
Justin Ray led Jones County with 19 points as 13 came from KJ Gray and 9 from Kieran Spencer. All three had a trio of three-pointers in Tuesday’s win, which also included a combined 12 rebounds by Ray and Bowden.
