A season ago, McDonough won the region title, and that included a 35-point win against Jones County. On Tuesday night, even in defeat, the Greyhounds shot out a strong message to the region that it would be a tough team to reckon with. Jones County battled back to force overtime on Tuesday before falling 56-55 prior to a 77-40 loss to Eagles Landing and a 57-56 win against Josey on Saturday.
Jones County’s grit was evident early on Tuesday, coming back from an eight-point deficit after a quarter to lead 24-22 at halftime. That put the game in close quarters in the second half, where for the most part McDonough had an answer for each scoring punch thrust by the Greyhounds, who kept the Warhawks defense spread out by a combined four three-pointers from KJ Gray and Cooper Morton, who each scored 11 points in addition to Rudy Bowden returning from injury to score 13.
“That’s going to be our identity. We’re going to fight. We’re going to take some punches, but we can also dish out some punches,” Greyhounds head coach Dylan Dupree said. “We have some fighters, and we’re learning to play as a team. And we’ll learn how to win, and we’re building a winning culture, I can see it in their eyes.”
Throughout the back and forth of Tuesday’s game, Jones County kept fighting, tying it up 46-46 with 2:46 to play as Morton’s layup along the baseline was good for a two-pointer.
The Warhawks inched ahead, leading 51-48 with 36 seconds to play after a pair of free throws. Jones County, however, was undaunted. Thirty-six seconds ended up being plenty of time for JCHS to knot things up, tying the score at 51-51 on a three-pointer by Gray, forcing overtime.
Jones County, which led 52-51 early in the extra frame, saw McDonough lead 54-52 as JCHS was unable to counter, as a young roster fell 56-55 in the end to a defending region champion.
“We dressed three seniors, one junior, seven sophomores, and six freshmen,” Dupree said.
