An old adage in golf is “it isn’t how you drive but how you arrive” that is important. Jonesboro-Hodge proved the point this past Thursday in the girls basketball game against Saline by overcoming first and third quarter deficits to win 42-39 thanks to a gutty fourth quarter performance. 

The adage could also applied to the JHHS season to date in head coach Shan Jackson’s first year at the helm. Inheriting a team that won only three games last year, Jackson has diligently worked to establish the brand of basketball and culture she desires for her squad. 

The 6-18 overall record shows that there is still work to be done. Yet the fact that Jackson has led JHHS to double the number of wins a year ago and now back-to-back wins for the first time this season proves that the Lady Tigers are on the way.

How JHHS won also speaks volumes for the confidence that Jackson is instilling in her players. JHHS held a 37-32 lead midway through the fourth quarter but Saline had narrowed the margin to 38-37 with 3:35 remaining in the game.

JHHS missed a shot seemingly giving Saline a chance to take the lead but Sanaa Tatum skied to corral the miss and scored on the put back. Again Saline pulled to within one on a pair of free throws by Alana Gray with 1:06 left in the game. 

Then with 37 seconds, left Angel Moss was fouled. The move seemed like a good strategy as up to that point Moss had not scored. Maybe that would have been the case earlier in the year, but on Thursday, Moss stepped up and calmly sank both charity shots.  She wasn’t alone in showing confidence at the end as Morgan McGee, Jaylena Jackson, Sanaa Tatum and Moss combined to sink 7 of 10 clutch free throws in the fourth quarter to take the victory. 

The season record shows that there is still work to be done to bring the program back to the swagger of the not to distant past. Yet the fact that Jackson has led JHHS to double the number of wins a year ago and now back-to-back wins for the first time this season proves that the Lady Tigers are on the way.

Lakeview 59 JHHS 15 (Girls) – Fourth-ranked Lakeview stormed out to a 20-5 first quarter lead and never looked back in the first game of the second split of district 3-2A play. The victory gave Lakeview, now 20-2 overall, a district leading 6-0 record while the Lady Tigers fell to 1-5 in 3-2A play and 6-18 overall. Morgan McGee led JHHS in scoring with 8 points followed by Neesha Johnson with five. Sanaa Tatum added a pair of free throws. 

Saline 52 JHHS 35 (boys) – Saline scored the first 11 points of the game and never looked back in the road victory on Thursday. Down 22-8 after the end of one, JHHS rallied to narrow the deficit to 29-22 at the half on the strength of a pair of three pointers by Daelen Boston. The two teams battled to a nine-all draw in the third quarter before Saline iced the game by winning the final frame by a 14-4 margin. 

Sophomore Eli Ferguson controlled the paint to lead Saline in scoring with 20 points followed by Trent Ledbetter and Gavon Dailey who added 13 and 10 points respectively. Za’Mauryian Palmer led JHHS with 11 points, while Boston had 10 and Dewayne Palmer scored six. 

Saline 33 JHHS 21 (JV boys) – Conner Roberts scored 12 points including 8 in the second half that saw Saline rally from a 12-11 halftime deficit. Jay Nash had seven points and Jackson Bougues chipped in with five, all in the fourth quarter. Bryce Davis also scored five and Nathan Peoples added four. JHHS was led by Ariy’un Bradford who had 9 points, with 8 coming in the second quarter. Duke Tew scored six while Dylan Hayes, Samuel Combs and Kamerin Bradley all tallied two each. 

Lakeview 73 JHHS 37 (boys) – Homestanding Lakeview held on to it’s top ranking in Division IV and undefeated record in district 3-2A. With the victory Lakeview improved to 21-4 overall and 6-0 in district play while the Tigers fell to 3-16 and 1-5. No game stats were available at time of press.