Push toward postseason play in effect following split with Wolverines, Wildcats

HOOP HOUNDS

  • After a pair of road games this week, Jones County hosts Ola and Dutchtown to close out the regular season next week. BRAD HARRISON/Staff
    After a pair of road games this week, Jones County hosts Ola and Dutchtown to close out the regular season next week. BRAD HARRISON/Staff
  • Kaden Douglas elevates above the reach of Union Grove to drain a jump shot. BRAD HARRISON/Staff
    Kaden Douglas elevates above the reach of Union Grove to drain a jump shot. BRAD HARRISON/Staff

    With more time off than expected due to a schedule change, the Greyhounds began the second half of the region schedule last Thursday as the top team in the region standings behind first-place Dutchtown. Every team in the region is chasing Dutchtown not just for first place but also for the right to host next month’s region tournament.

    The Greyhounds’ climb is a bit more steep after they went 1-1 late last week, losing 68-58 at home before bouncing back a night later with a 62-39 win at Locust Grove. In the win against the Wildcats, 11 players scored at least a point, led by Jakeylan Wilburn’s 12 points, 10 from Jaleel Jordan and eight from Jaden Stanley and Rudy Bowden.

    That win improved Jones County to 16-4 overall and 6-2 in the region. The Greyhounds began the week in the second place with a pair of games this week against teams within the region’s top four. Jones County played Tuesday at Eagles Landing and go to Warner Robins on Friday.

    “It doesn’t get any easier,” Greyhounds head coach Buck Harris said.

    The Greyhounds found themselves trailing over the course of the first half on Thursday against Union Grove, down 32-22 at halftime. Jones County, a team that has prided itself to this point on its mentality to not give up, showed that spirit against the Wolverines, finding themselves down 47-44 going to the final quarter.

    “It’s like I just told them, I take full responsibility for this loss. I’m trying not to put too much pressure on them and keep them loose, and that’s not who I am. I’m intense, I’m fiery and I’m by the book and let too much stuff go this week,” Harris said. “Having not played in 13 days, that’s a problem, but the way we played (Thursday), that’s a reflection on me, this loss goes back to me.”

    Jones County would climb in front. Keeping pace on a three pointer by Jaden Stanley as well as a jumper with 5:35, also by Stanley, the Greyhounds led 51-50. But a quick 4-1 Wolverines lead moved them in front, 54-52.

    Then, after a JCHS layup rimmed out, the Wolverines struck big, draining a three-pointer to lead 57-52 with 2:55 to play.

    The Greyhounds stayed in it, trailing 57-56 with 2:03 left when Bowden drilled a three-pointer, but Union Grove closed out the game on an 11-2 run. Stanley’s 19 points and 17 from Douglas led the Greyhounds in the loss, in addition to Tyler Wold’s nine rebounds.

    “You want to play your best basketball right about now,” Harris said.

    “We didn’t do that for 20 minutes. We played well in spurts, but you can’t miss defensive assignments and miss block outs.”