GREYHOUND HOOPS
From tip off on Friday, the Lady Greyhounds were at a disadvantage against Houston County. With one glance down to the opposite end of the court, the Bears had a depth of at least six or seven players in reserve. A pan back down to the Lady Hounds end, meanwhile, showed just three to rotate in, giving Jones County a thin margin in case of injuries or foul trouble.
Going against an improved Bears team from the earlier meeting this season, Jones County controlled things most of the way before Houston County got within single digits late by way of a 14-point fourth quarter. The Lady Greyhounds, now 13-4 on the season, shook off the late-game doldrums, pulling away again to win 35-21. Jones County won the previous meeting 63-24.
“When we’re shorthanded, we have to play little differently and not press as much,” Lady Greyhounds head coach ChoRhonda Gwaltney-Harris said. “We pressed a little more in the second half, got a lead and gave it right back.”
Friday was the final taste of non-region play for the Lady Greyhounds, who improved to 13-4 overall. From here on out, every game will be against region opponents, the next being Friday at Dutchtown. Jones County began the new year tied for third with Eagles Landing and one game ahead of Dutchtown. JCHS hosts first-place Union Grove on Jan. 12.
“This is what we wanted, a good tune-up before we go into region,” Gwaltney- Harris said.
Being shorthanded forced JCHS to alter its strategy early on, not applying defensive pressure as much as it would like. But it was still enough to disrupt the Bears on offense, holding them to 11 first-half points and a single field goal in the second quarter. That, combined with 21 points in the first two quarters, seven of them alone from Aubrey Norris, paced JCHS to a 21-11 advantage at the break.
Norris would lead the Lady Hounds with 12 points, and her pair of three pointers were part of five overall from beyond the three-point arc with the remainder being two from Mya Anderson and one by Carlie Skinner.
That effort from long distance combined with Amaris Ridgeway being able to drive toward the basket to the tune of eight points helped the Lady Greyhounds extend their lead coming out of halftime, up 35-21 through three quarters, a cushion that would be needed with Houston County knocking down three shots from three-point range in the final quarter.
“We didn’t finish it very well, and Houston County played like they wanted it,” Gwaltney-Harris said. “We pulled it out, that’s all that matters.”
