GREYHOUND BASKETBALL
Jones County got what any team needs in a hotly contested region last week needs – a win early on. After fighting injuries that occurred during the course of the season, the Greyhounds ended the week with two wins in three games that led into this past Tuesday’s return to region play against Warner Robins.
Tyler Wold, Kaden Douglas and Jaden Stanley are three of the most experienced Greyhounds from last year’s team, and each played a key role in the 58-54 road win against Union Grove. Douglas scored 20 points along with two three-pointers with Stanley’s 15 points being complemented by a three-pointer. Tyler Wold would add 13 points.
On Friday against Houston County, injuries threw Jones County a curveball. Stanley was sidelined, and Wold left in the first half with a lower leg injury in a 66-54 loss. That forced others to step up as the Bears took the lead after trailing early and slowly pulled away. The Greyhounds countered, trailing 46-44 after three quarters. Houston County would go on a quick run to extend the lead that’s closest challenge ended up being ahead 55-50 3:00 to go on a jumper by Jaleel Jordan, who had 20 points on the night. Douglas chipped in 11 with Geo Wade scoring 10 points to go with six rebounds.
“We’ve been shorthanded before. We opened up the season without (Kaden). But not having Jaden out here (Friday), an extra ball-handling point guard who could get the ball going inside, that was a big part for us,” Greyhounds head coach Buck Harris said.
But with that said.... “We can’t point the finger and blame anybody,” Harris added. “There were a lot of things that happened in the course of the game that we didn’t do. We missed free throws in the first and second half. We’ll learn from this; you learn from losses. This was a good game for us to play because I know how tough (Houston County) is.”
JCHS (6-2) appeared to learn from the loss. The Greyhounds rebounded Saturday at Northside, winning 68-51 behind the Greyhounds combining for six three-pointers, two by Douglas and one each from Jordan, Rudy Bowen, Tayshaun Lattimore and Jaden Tolbert.
Jordan led the Greyhounds with 16 points with 13 by Lattimore, 11 by Bowen and 10 by Douglas and Wade.
Marlin Mills pulled down eight rebounds.
Jones County will spend plenty of time at home in the coming games, hosting Northside and Locust Grove on Thursday and Friday as well as Eagles Landing next Tuesday.
