Lady Hounds bounce back from loss with two dominant wins

GIRLS HOOPS

  • Scan this QR code to see more photos and order reprints from Jones County sporting events.
    Scan this QR code to see more photos and order reprints from Jones County sporting events.
  • Freshman Kammiya Adams splits a pair of Locust Grove defenders for two points on Friday. BRAD HARRISON/Staff
    Freshman Kammiya Adams splits a pair of Locust Grove defenders for two points on Friday. BRAD HARRISON/Staff

    Way back in December, after the Lady Greyhounds dropped a pair of close games to Union Grove and Warner Robins in region play, the proverbial finger was pointed to late-season rematches. As long as Jones County won out against the rest of the region, it would be in position to win at least a share of the regular-season title.

    Now, the Lady Hounds are regrouping. After Thursday’s 50-43 road loss to Union Grove, Jones County is now working to protect third place barring either Warner Robins or Union Grove suffering multiple upsets in the next two weeks.

    “We were really upset about it; kids were crying,” Lady Greyhounds head coach ChoRhonda Gwaltney-Harris said of the Union Grove loss. “I came in (Friday) and was going to watch film and was like ‘that’s not going to do us any good.’ We talked a little about the game and just moved on. There’s nothing you can do about it.”

    And move on, Jones County did.

    A pair of easy wins, 69-33 over Locust Grove on Friday and 61-38 over Northeast-Macon on Saturday helped the Lady Hounds bounce back in advance of a five-game span to end the season that’ll include Friday’s home finale against Warner Robins.

    With first or second place likely out of the picture going into the region tournament, the focus is now on being in a position to make a run toward a tournament title.

    The top four in the region tournament advance to the state tournament with the top two hosting a firstround game.

    “We have to have some really crazy things happen,” Gwaltney-Harris said. “The biggest thing for us is to play better in time for the tournament.

    (Against Union Grove), we didn’t play bad. We played hard but not as smart.

    When that happens, good teams will get you.”

    That disappointment was placed firmly in the Jones County’s rearview mirror Friday, with Amaris Ridgeway torching the Wildcats with 17 points, 13 in the first half, and Aubrey Norris scoring 10 points, eight in the second half, to add to the rout that saw JCHS lead 35-19 at halftime and wear Locust Grove down in the second half, outscoring them 19-12 in the third to go up 54-31 entering to fourth.

    The play of Carlie Skinner from the perimeter kept Locust Grove honest, nailing a pair of three-pointers on the way to scoring 10 points.

    All told, 12 Lady Hounds scored at least a point on Friday.

    “The bonus of it at the end of the season is that I can play more kids than others and still be OK,” Gwaltney-Harris said. “Hopefully, we keep getting that experience and can keep putting them out there in crunch time.”