Bigger is better for Bob Jones’ Chloe Long
Chloe Long calls for the ball against Huntsville
When Chloe Long hit her growth spurt, her father made sure she was ready with the basketball skills. Now, the sophomore starting center for Bob Jones is seeing the fruits of that hard work.
“My dad played at Johnson and was really good so I picked up on his genes and started playing like him,” said Johnson.
“I am working on ball–handling skills and keeping the ball up so I can score more,” Long said. “I practice my shooting a lot in practice and shoot a lot of free throws.”
Long only became eligible to play in games the second semester. She was allowed to practice but had to sit out the games in the first semester because she started at Bob Jones after the semester began due to a move.
“Watching from the bench made me want to play harder when I got the chance.”
Long, who is now 6-foot-2, has played AAU ball for the past few summers. She has a skill set that is more developed than most players her age and she will improve over the next two years according to Bob Jones head coach Danny Petty.
“She is our tallest player,” Petty said of Long. “She can handle the ball and drive it, she has got a good soft shot and she can hit her free throws.”
Petty coached Long’s father, Timmy Long, at Johnson High School.
Long hit her season average of 13 points and 7 rebounds Tuesday night as Bob Jones played their next–to-last home game of the season and posted a 45-33 win against Huntsville. The Lady Patriots avenged a tough 39-31 loss to the Panthers just a week ago. Bob Jones is now 25-4.
Chloe Long
Long had six points in the first half and Meredith Lovelady hit a 3-point shot just before halftime to put Bob Jones up 21-8 at halftime.
Long then followed that up with seven in the third quarter when Huntsville tried to make a run. The Panthers closed to eight points at 34-26.
Lindsey Jennings went 6-6 shooting free throws in the fourth quarter as Bob Jones had their biggest lead at 43-29.
Jennings is the floor leader and a senior who is being recruited by a number of colleges but has not committed.
“Chloe gives us another post player to match up against teams and she has been a big help to our team,”Jennings said.
The Patriots will end the regular season with senior night on Monday, Feb. 4 against Grissom.
“We are always looking to improve,” said Bob Jones head coach Danny Petty. “We played well the first half tonight. The second half we turned it over too many times.”
