Bob Jones Girls claim Area 15 Championship
One night after they witnessed the Bob Jones boys suffer an upset, the girls team was not about to let the same thing happen again. The top ranked girl’s basketball team in the state took the first step toward getting to Birmingham and playing for another state championship.
With the 64-34 victory over Austin, the Bob Jones girls took home the class 6A, Area 15 championship plaque and six Lady Patriot’s took home honors for being named to the All-Tournament team.
Austin however gave their fans hope in the first quarter as the two teams swapped baskets early. Austin tied the game at 4 and late into the first quarter trailed only 11-9. But the swarming defense of Bob Jones soon broke down Austin’s offense as Joidan Jennings scored 4 points in a matter of seconds on a coast-to coast drive and layup followed by a steal and score to put the Lady Patriots up 15-9. The game was still close after one quarter at 15-14.
That is as close as it would get as Bob Jones went on a 12-0 run to start the second quarter sparked by Lindsey Jennings offensive rebound and score. China Leary pumped in a 3-point shot and another Austin turnover resulted in a fast break and a Leary layup. Jasmine Jones hit a short jumper in the lane using her left hand and followed that up with a 3-point play. The bench helped the rally as Katie Colson scored on an offensive rebound and followed that up with a basket on a feed from Leary. The scoring barrage was ended only by the buzzer ending the first half. Bob Jones had outscored Austin 22-3 in the second quarter.
Joidan Jennings led the scoring with 10 first half points, including 4 of 4 from the free throw line. Lindsey Jennings had 6 and Jasmine Jones had 8. The team was 8 of 9 from the free throw line.
It was another impressive performance from Lindsey Jennings who broke into the starting lineup early this season when DeAisha Campbell went down with a broken ankle. Her versatility allows her to play the point or the swing position where her size gives the Patriots another rebounder. And the junior doesn’t plan on giving up that starting position.
“I’m real excited to be playing because last year even though we won a state championship I didn’t get to play because I was hurt and now I’m happy to be back and helping the team,” said Jennings who has emerged as a team leader along with her older sister Joidan.
She has averaged 6 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists per game this season.
“Coach Miller has told me to talk more on the court and I’m glad to do that.”
The Lady Patriots continued to build their lead in the third quarter led by China Leary’s 3-point basket and a 3-point play by Jasmine Jones to make it 48-24. Lindsey Jennings scored on a slashing drive to the basket and had another score on an offensive rebound and drew a foul. She missed the free throw and soon took the rest of the game off finishing with 10 points after 3 quarters with Bob Jones leading 52-24.
“I knew I had to focus because we had been talking about this game all day and I just wanted to come out and help us win the game. We are not taking any team for granted because anything can happen. We just came out and played hard to win the game and get back to where we want to get which is the state championship,” Lindsey Jennings said after the game.
But the Lady Patriots still have work to do before they can make plans for Birmingham and the Final four. First they will host a sub-regional game Thursday night at 7 p.m.
Jasmine Jones led the scoring with 11 points, Joidan Jennings finished with 10 points, China Leary had 8. Katie Colson led the bench with 6 points and Chandler Elder had 4.
Lindsey Jennings along with sister Joidan were both named to the All-Tournament team along with China Leary, Jasmine Jones, Tierra Jones and Katie Colson.
The game was decided in the second quarter said Bob Jones coach Tim Miller.
“Joidan turned it up, pushed the ball in transition, and had a couple of steals and layups. Both Lindsey and Joidan had great games. Joidan is a senior and she has been through this before and understands situations. They all contributed in their own way.”
Miller and the players said they talked about what happened to the boy’s team the night before.
“A couple of them texted me saying coach I know why you are telling us not to take anything for granted. There are 5 or 6 seniors on this team and they saw what happened to the boys last night. You don’t want to leave this court like that,” said Miller.
