The laws of physics state that what goes up must come down. At Jonesboro-Hodge there has been an addition to this, as in, through hard work and determination what comes down will go up again. for virtually every school in the state the 2020-21 season has seen it’s share of ups and downs but hardly any school has been on the roller coaster ride that the Lady Tigers of Jonesboro-Hodge has endured. 

In head coach Britani Fields second year J-H started the year by storming out of the gate to compile a 6-1 record with their only loss being to East Iberville, the #1 ranked team in Class A. Then the Lady Tigers got hit by a double whammy of losing Fields to surgery and at the same time having to face an incredibly difficult, four game run against Neville (11-2) – #3 in Class 4A; Ruston (17-6) – #10 in Class 5A, Lakeview (13-3) – #4 in Class 2A and Gibsland-Coleman who is the second ranked team in Class C but can play with anyone in the state.  Talk about your murderer’s row.

In the light of the adage what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger the Lady Tigers persevered and has now won their last four in impressive fashion including their first two district 1-2A games against Lakeside and D’Arbonne Woods and a victory over traditional rival Winnfield. The main catalyst in the resurgence is Xabrianna Jackson who after a slow start to the season has returned to her District 1-2A MVP form of a year ago to help the Lady Tigers improve the overall record to 10-5. Also making solid contributions were Zymea Hoggro, Yahzmynne Andrews and Chamya Waters who each have tallied double digits in games. 

(Tuesday, January 26) JHHS 62 Lakeside 36 – With the backcourt of Jackson and Hoggro scoring six each and Waters adding four, JHHS raced out to a 19-10 first quarter lead and never looked back to win the district 1-2A opener. Jackson led the way with 23 points while Andrews and Hoggro added 15 and 10 each. Waters chipped in with nine, Sydney Malone added three and Jessica Bradford two. Lakeside played the contest with only five players dressed out. 

JHHS (8-5, 1-0)	19	14	10	19	62
Lakeside (1-4, 0-1)	10	13	8	5	36

JHHS scoring: Jackson 23, Andrews 15, Hoggro 10, Waters 9, Malone 3, Bradford 2
LHS scoring: Voss 17, Braggs 6, McCullough 6, Robinson 5, Weston 2

(Friday, January 29th) JHHS 46 D’Arbonne Woods 33 – After both teams struggled to score in the first quarter that ended in a 6-6 tie the Lady Tigers took control in the second to take a 21-11 halftime lead enroute to their second straight district 1-2A victory. Once again it was Jackson who led the way with 18 points all coming in the final three quarters. Hoggro also came up big with 14 followed by six each from Andrews and Waters as only four Lady Tigers scored in the contest. D’Arbonne Woods fell to 5-11 overall and 0-1 in district play.

JHHS (9-5, 2-0)	6	15	18	7	46
DWC (5-11, 0-1)	6	5	12	1-	33

JHHS scoring: Jackson 18, Hoggro 14, Waters 6, Andrews 6
DWC scoring: K. Hayes 16, Scoskie 8, A. Hayes 4, fine 3, Phelps 2

(Saturday, January 30th) JHHS 64 Winnfield 50 – In the makeup game that was originally scheduled for January 12th, the Lady Tigers opened up a 24-6 first quarter that held up the rest of the way despite Winnfield shaving ten points off the lead by the half. The Lady Tigers traditional rival had no answer for Jackson and Waters in the first eight minutes as the two combined for all but two of the first quarter points on the way to 27 and 20 points respectively. Andrews got into the act in the second half by scoring all nine of her points while Hoggro added four and Malone two.

JHHS (10-5)	24	4	24	12	64
Winnfield (7-6)	6	14	20	10	50

JHHS scoring: Jackson 27, Waters 20, Andrews 9, Z. Hoggro 4, A. Hoggro 2, Malone 2
WHS scoring: Evans 21, Gilbert 9, Roberson 7, Davis 4, Evans 4, Brown 3, Sapp 2

Quitman stretches win streak to 11 straight

Everyone likes to think they have a lucky number. The Quitman High girls basketball team has got to believe somewhat in that theory but with a little twist to it. Instead of a lucky number they have had a lucky letter this year. That is C as in Calvin, Castor, Cedar Creek, Claiborne Christiam. The Lady Wolverines have beaten them all, some more than once, without losing a game. Now you can add Choudrant to the list.

The two teams that tied for the district championship last year squared off in the 2B opener for both with Quitman making the statement that they wanted the title all to themselves this year by taking a 50-43 victory. That was followed by a 67-33 thumping over Weston in the battle for Jackson Parish supremacy as Quitman won their 11th straight and continued one of the best seasons in school history.  

(Tuesday, January 26) Quitman 50 Choudrant 43 – An 18-7 first quarter advantage was too much for Choudrant to overcome in the battle between the two district favorites. Choudrant actually had a higher field goal percentage (31.4% – 30.2%) and three point percentage (33.3% – 23.8%) than Quitman but the Lady Wolverines  marksmanship from the free throw line where they  made 11 of 16 compared to just 4 of 9 for Choudrant made the difference. 

It was the “three amigos” of Clara Womack, Bethany Leach and Brayli Stewart that did almost all the damage as they combined for 43 of the 50 points scored. With three trey’s apiece Stewart and Leach scored 15 and 14 points each followed by Womack who scored 12 despite not making a three pointer for one of the few times this season. Cali Deal added five and Maddie Kaye Brymer scored two. 

Quitman (18-3, 1-0)	16	12	15	7	50
Choudrant (10-9, 0-1)	7	18	6	12	43

QHS scoring: Stewart 15, Leach 14, Womack 12, Deal 5, Brymer 2
CHS scoring: N/A

(Friday, January 29) Quitman 67 Weston 33 – Stacey Tucker of Weston and Quitman head coach, Kyle Leach have squared off against each other countless times over the past decade. They both know each others squad like their own,  having watched the girls from both of the Jackson Parish schools compete against each other since they were little kids.  

In Tucker’s mind the best way to control Quitman was to contain the backcourt duo of Bethany Leach and Clara Womack so he had his girls set up their defense in what is called a triangle and two set. That is where two players are guarded man to man, or in this case, girl to girl and the remaining three play a triangle shaped zone. Over the past couple of  years that would have been good strategy against Quitman but this year a third threat has developed in Brayli Stewart and brother did she make Weston pay for leaving her alone. 

“As soon as I realized what they were doing I called Brayli over to talk to her,” said Leach. “I told her to shoot it and keep on shooting it.” 

Stewart followed his advise and the result was a new career high 27 points on the strength of four trey’s and Quitman’s 11 straight victory which improved their record to a sparkling 19-3 and a commanding 2-0 start to district play. 

“Brayli has been huge for us this year,” continued Leach. “Almost everyone we play knows about Clara (Womack) and Bethany (Leach) but this year Brayli has been as difficult to guard as the other two are.” 

For the first time in recent memory Quitman has an inside threat as well in eighth grader Cali Deal, who introduced herself to the Lady Wolves by scoring 11, all but two coming in the first half as Quitman took a 33-15 lead into the break. Despite having a hand in their face all night Womack and Leach still managed to be effective with 16 and 10 points each although both were limited to one three pointer apiece. 

Weston’s not only had trouble stopping the vaunted Quitman offense but had trouble scoring as well managing to score in double digits in a quarter only once. Up and coming Briley Peterson, who like Stewart has emerged as a solid threat, led the Lady Wolves with 14. Emma Kate McBride and Lexi Barmore was next with six each followed by 4 from Mary Catherine Hay and three from Mallory Tolar. The loss was a huge blow to any title chances the Lady Wolves had as they dropped to 0-2 in district play and 13-11 on the year.

Quitman (19-3, 2-0)	13	20	16	18	67
Weston (13-11, 0-2)	9	6	11	7	33

QHS scoring: Stewart 27, Womack 16, Deal 11, Leach 10, Ford 2, Brymer 1, Gray 1
WHS scoring: Peterson 14, Barmore 6, McBride 6, Hay 4, Tolar 3

Simsboro holds on against Weston in 2B opener for both

(Tuesday, January 26) Simsboro 56 Weston 49 – Simsboro jumped out to a 20-13 lead in the first quarter and then held on for the seven point victory despite Weston holding the Lady Tigers to just one field goal in the final frame and making a furious run at a rally. 

It was all Simsboro in the district 2B opener for both for three quarters as they opened up a 49-36 lead heading into the final eight minutes but behind trey’s from Lainee Trosclair and Emma Kate McBride as well as dead eye marksmanship from the line by Mallory Tolar Weston made it interesting before coming up short. 

McBride led the Lady Wolves with 14, followed by 9 from Lexi Barmore and 8 from Trosclair in one of her better scoring games of the year. Briley Peterson also made 8 and both Mallory Tolar and Mary Catherine Hay added five. The loss was a bitter pill to swallow for Weston who was hoping to continue their recent streak of playing well that had led to four wins in their previous five games. 

Weston (13-10, 0-1)	13	14	9	13	49
Simsboro (7-6, 1-0)	20	16	13	7	56

WHS scoring: McBride 14, Barmore 9, Trosclair 8, Peterson 8, Hay 5, Tolar 5
SHS scoring: n/a

Additional area scores: 

(Tuesday, January 26): Many 65 Winnfield 38, Arcadia 42 Calvary Baptist 20, Ouachita Christian 50 Cedar Creek 43, Doyline 59 Saline 56, Castor 62 Dodson 36, Atlanta 58 Calving 40
(Wednesday, January 27): Arcadia 54 Lakeside 38
(Friday, January 29): West Monroe 48 West Ouachita 29, Winnfield 54 Sterlington 22, Homer 46 Arcadia 32, Lincoln Prep 47 Haynesville 42, Cedar Creek 53 Delhi 25, Castor 59 Saline 41, Doyline 58 Dodson 33