Lady Hounds laser-focused heading into postseason

LADY HOUND HOOPS

  • Amaris Ridgeway takes the ball up the floor against Ola. BRAD HARRISON/Staff
    Amaris Ridgeway takes the ball up the floor against Ola. BRAD HARRISON/Staff
  • Lady Hounds laser-focused heading into postseason
    Lady Hounds laser-focused heading into postseason
  • Mya Anderson aided the Lady Greyhounds strong three-point shooting in both of last week’s victories. BRAD HARRISON/Staff
    Mya Anderson aided the Lady Greyhounds strong three-point shooting in both of last week’s victories. BRAD HARRISON/Staff

    Last week had absolutely no bearing on the region tournament for the Lady Greyhounds.

    Win or lose against Ola and Dutchtown, Jones County’s seed for the region tourney, which began Tuesday at Dutchtown, was already set.

    Jones County, which will likely play Warner Robins in the semifinal round on Thursday, did not show signs of being lackadaisical against two teams lower in the standings. It made for a successful week as the Lady Greyhounds coasted into the region tournament with another measure of success – nobody suffered a serious injury as the regular season concluded with a 19-5 overall record and 9-3 in the region.

    “They came in here ready to play. I think we have a different mindset right now,” Lady Greyhounds head coach ChoRhonda Gwaltney- Harris said. “We’ve got to be ready to play and ready to go this time of the season. That’s what you need right now, because after this week, it’s one and done.”

    During Tuesday’s senior night against Ola, the Lady Greyhounds did anything but take the Mustangs – next to last in the region standings – lightly. By the time the first quarter ended, JCHS was already on cruise control, up 16-2 and 35-8 at halftime, a big enough lead to shorten the clock in the second half by way of the mercy rule.

    Ola had no answer for Carlie Skinner and her 22 points and 15 from Britley Johnson.

    Jones County started red hot on Friday against Dutchtown, winning 47-20. One reason that the Lady Hounds got the better of the visiting Bulldogs? Sharp shooting early on. Jones County converted six three pointers in the first half alone, three of which were by Skinner, who had nine points on Friday as the Lady Hounds were led by Amaris Ridgeway’s 13 points. It came on a night where Jones County’s defensive pressure flustered the Bulldogs, holding them below 20 points until the closing minutes.

    “This week didn’t really mean anything for us in the standings. We’d be third no matter what,” Gwaltney-Harris said. “We’re healthy and we’re playing well. We’re playing more as a team and together.”