Now, the job is simple for Jones County — begin the region tournament by playing its best basketball and earning one of four state tournament berths.
With a 10-team region, that fight that begins with Friday’s play-in games will have the makings of an Oklahoma Land Rush, and that journey for JCHS will begin by taking on Woodland. The two teams split the season series with one another with Jones County winning 54-51 and losing the later matchup, 71-30.
The winner will advance in the region tourney with the loser’s season coming to an end. At 11-13 overall and 6-11 in the region, the Greyhounds’ season has been one filled with ups and downs. At one point this season, Jones County had won three in a row and on another occasion, three of four. Conversely, the Greyhounds also previously lost four in a row.
But JCHS, which also topped Putnam County outside of region play in early January, has shown that when it is in sync, it can play with most anyone.
That’s something that Jones County is zeroing in on this week in its hunt for a state tournament trip.
“We know that if we play as one and not as individuals, we can beat most anyone,” Greyhounds head coach Dylan Dupree said. “That’s obviously the goal this time of the year, to play your best.”
An effort similar to Friday’s nip-and-tuck loss to ELCA could key Jones County to region tournament success, as a close game’s margin of victory was inflated late by free throws. Against Hampton, Jaiden Bond’s 13 points led the Greyhounds with 12 from Justin Ray.
