An upset of Stockbridge the week before took some buzz out of the final week of the regular season for the Lady Greyhounds, wrapping up the top seed for the region tournament before Wednesday’s game against Stockbridge even tipped off.
But that does not mean there was not a degree of sweetness in last week’s wins over Union Grove and Stockbridge that gave Jones County a perfect region record of 18-0 going into the postseason.
“It means a lot,” Lady Greyhounds head coach Takeo Gray said. “They worked hard for it.”
Thanks to that unblemished region mark, Jones County clinched a state tournament spot and began the region tournament on Wednesday of this week at Woodland with the title games of the tourney set for Friday.
A top-two finish in the region tournament would earn a first-round state tournament game at home with a region title putting JCHS at home for possibly the first three rounds.
“That’s the goal,” Gray said. “You want that home playoff game,” A strong start got the Lady Hounds well on their way in Wednesday’s win against Stockbridge, part of which was a 10-1 run late in the first quarter, one that aided a 23-10 lead early in the second on an Aubrey Norris three pointer and Liberty Pennamon layup. It added up to a 37-23 JCHS lead at halftime.
Norris’ 24 points led the Lady Hounds to go with five rebounds, five assists, two blocks and four three pointers.
The visiting Tigers were unable to slow Jones County’s multi-pronged offensive attack with 20 points by Mya Anderson, six by Kamiyah Adams and hard work in the paint paced by Pennamon’s five rebounds, five steals and six assists.
Jones County had to stave off Stockbridge late as the lead was cut to 58-48 before the Lady Greyhounds closed out the win.
“We started well but didn’t end it as good as we wanted to,” Gray said. “They responded with some big shots and big plays. I’m proud of them.”
Wednesday’s win came a day after easing past Union Grove 66-47, led by the 15 points and seven rebounds by Adams, 13 points and eighth rebounds by Anderson and the 11 points and six rebounds by Norris.
