Clinch home-court in first round
If the goal for the Lady Greyhounds is to be clicking on all cylinders just in time for the postseason, then last week’s region tournament showed that Jones County may be doing just that.
The Lady Greyhounds dominated the second half of last Thursday’s tournament semifinal against Warner Robins, winning 68-45 for their second win overall in a row against the Demons. The Lady Hounds nearly came away from the tournament played at Dutchtown as region champions, leading top-ranked Union Grove late before a go-ahead three pointer near the end gave the Wolverines a 40-36 win.
Now, Jones County, who is 21-6 on the season, has the luxury of both rest and opening the postseason at home. Region 2-AAAAA played its tournament last week while many others in the state were wrapping up the regular season. That means, while JCHS is practicing, resting up and fine-tuning this week, its first-round opponent will be playing.
“We’re playing hard and doing what we’re supposed to do,” Lady Greyhounds head coach ChoRhonda Gwaltney- Harris said. “We’re sticking to the game plan instead of doing our own thing. We’re gelling as a team, and I’m really proud of my kids for how they’re fighting.”
As the region’s No. 2 seed, Jones County will host the third seed from Region 3-AAAAA next week. As this week began, Northgate and Northside Columbus were tied for second in that region with McIntosh in fourth.
“That’s pretty big,” Gwaltney-Harris said. “It’s great to be able to play at home and not have to get on a bus and ride somewhere.”
Thanks to the Lady Greyhounds’ performance against Warner Robins, they’ll be in an unusual spot in the postseason – at home. The win against the Demons gave them home court in the opening round as they were led by Carlie Skinner’s 21 points and the 16 points and six rebounds from Amaris Ridgeway. Two others reached double figures in the win with Mya Anderson having 11 points and five rebounds along with Britley Johnson’s 13 points and 11 rebounds.
“They were ready to play. That’s really the bottom line,” Gwaltney- Harris said.
Leading 32-25 at the half, Jones County kept the pressure on, outscoring Warner Robins 24-14 in the third before Warner Robins would draw within two points. JCHS didn’t give up control, dominating a fourth quarter in which the Demons were held to a mere six points aiding Jones County’s ability to put the game away.
“They were trying to come back and playing so fast, and we were able to turn them over,” Gwaltney- Harris said.
