Patriots return to 6A title game

Joidon Jennings grabs a loose ball and sprints toward the basket during the Lady Patriots' Final 4 victory over Jeff Davis.

It was over as soon as it started.

The Bob Jones Lady Patriots made easy work out of the Jeff Davis Volunteers by opening a 14-0 early lead and cruising to a 62-25 Final 4 victory at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex.

The Patriots (30-7) went up by 14 over the volunteers before Jeff Davis (27-4) found its rhythm to pull the game to 16-6 at the end of the first period.

“Anytime it takes you six minutes to score your first basket, that’s kind of tough to come back from,” said Jeff Davis head coach LaKenya Knight. “We couldn’t get started.”

Bob Jones head coach Tim Miller, who led his alma mater, Jeff Davis, to a title in 2006, said he felt sorry for his old school, but was proud of the way his girls have continued to get better.

Before the game, Miller challenged his girls to shut down Volunteer key players Jatoria Cater and Monterika Warren, and the Patriots succeeded.

“Their offense wasn’t as smooth once we contained them,” Miller said.

Jasmine Jones led the Patriots with a double-double of 21 points, including a 7-of-9 effort from the field, and 12 rebounds.

Tierra Jones was next with nine points, followed by Andrea Matthews with eight, China Leary with seven and Rikeya McKinnon with six.

For Jeff Davis, Warren had a team-high eight points, followed by Carter with six.

The Patriots will take on Hoover in the finals, a rematch of last year’s title game.

The Bucs outlasted the Patriots for the title last season, and Bob Jones is 1-2 against Hoover this season.

“In the back of our minds, this is what everybody wanted,” Miller said. “It will be a very interesting game.”

Tip off is Saturday at 1 p.m. at the BJCC.