A look at the local high school girls basketball teams

MADISON- The 2024-2025 season of girls basketball is underway and will be rockin’ and rollin’ if the teams perform as expected for the local high school teams in the Madison area. Two veteran coaches handling the reins at both James Clemens and Madison Academy will dip into their magic tricks as they see young squads hit the hardwoods leading up to what they each hope will be a trip to the AHSAA State Tournament in February.

The team capsules of those providing information by press time include:

James Clemens

A loss is a gain for the Lady Jets of James Clemens and their head coach Monica Maxwell going into the 2024-2025 season with the squad lost six seniors off last year’s 21-12 team. “We replaced each of those six with underclassmen and this should be an exciting year watching them grow knowing in the years to come we will be a force to be reckoned with,” said Maxwell, going into her fourth season as head coach of James Clemens.

According to Maxwell, the Lady Jets, “Are going to look a lot different as we are very young, and we are rebuilding.” In 2023-2024, James Clemens averaged 55 points per game including hitting on six three-point shots per outing. This year, the Jets have three seniors, one junior, five sophomores and two freshmen on a roster that Maxwell feels is small in physical stature, but will be a team that will run and gun. She added, “We pride ourselves on our defense so that’s something that will consistently roll over to this group.”

Top players to keep an eye on going into the new season include Brooke Mc-Neal (SF, 5-9, Sr.) who has had strong looks from Gadsden State, Berry College, New College and Labette CC among others; Jasmine Thomas (PG, 5-1, Sr.) being looked at by the United States Merchant Marine Academy is a true point guard with great quickness as she is crafty and can penetrate the gaps easily, plus plays great defense and who is a spark plug for the team; Karla de la Cruz Alejo (G/F, 5-9, Jr.) who is coming into her third year with the program as she’s an important utility player who will rebound, dive out of bounds, hit tough layups and guard the best opposing players; Blaise Dixon (F, 5-10, Fr.) who potentially could start as a freshman who is described as having a “ratchet” shot and can shoot from anywhere on the court and Maxwell is very excited about her potential on the squad; Jaslyn Ragan (G, 5-6, So.) a legit scorer who can finish at the rim, shoot the midrange plus the three-point shots and is considered a tough player who is a “gamer”; Breonn Holmes (G, 5-2, Fr.) another freshman who is a point guard and can stay in front of anyone, but can also shoot the ball when needed as her quickness is unmatched.

“We are small in size, but we are quick,” added Maxwell.

The remaining roster for the Lady Jets feature Ja’Niyah Rice (G, 5-4, So.), Sarah Tieszen (G, 5-5, Sr.), Nola Richardson (G, 5-5, So.), Anne Younanian (G, 5-5, So.), and Lorin Eso (F, 5-8, So.).

Bob Jones

Before J.O. Johnson morphed into Mae Jemison High School, the old school Jaguars proved to be a production line of athletes. Among that number was Sherell Hobbs.

These days, the married former Auburn star who was an All-State selection now goes by Hobbs Robertson with two young kids. She tutors young players herself at Bob Jones High School instead of dishing out heartache on the court along with her sister, Reneisha, and eventually Auburn teammate Alexis Ogubie, when they were Lady Jags.

Time moves on, and Sherell has. “We’re going to have a young team,” Robertson said of her first Lady Patriots squad. “We’ll learn how to gel with them.’’

Bob Jones started the young season 0-2, but don’t judge based on that. Point guard Jaliah Smith, who has led the team in scoring for the past three seasons, is out until mid-December with an injury.

“We’re a little bit wounded,” Robertson said. “Right now we’re just gonna manage things and try to win games without her. I have a lot of talented players, just not a lot of playing experience on this level. So, I’m trying to get them prepared for that.’’

Robertson comes from a highly successful stint at Mae Jemison.

Madison Academy

The Lady Mustangs program is what has been labeled “full strength” facing the 2024-2025 season. Late-season injuries curtailed a good season a year ago and all is well this fall as the girls are looking to build off a solid foundational year. “Our team has a goal that they’ve bought-in to achieving, which is competing in Birmingham at the State Tournament at the end of the season,” stated head coach Krista Baldwin after her team posted a 14-12 record last time around.

Three seniors will lead the team which also features four juniors, five sophomores and one freshman. The elder players include Regan Boyd (G, 5-6, Sr.), Emily Mouser (G, 5-6, Sr.) and Brooklyn Tucker (G, 5-9, Sr.). Baldwin is extremely confident the three can lead the remainder of the players. She said, “These three seniors have been about doing the right things and have been key contributors on the court in all facets of the game. Off the court, they’re even better and they are ready to make this season count.”

Tucker is being recruited by many schools such as Faulkner University, Houghton and Centre College. She averaged 12.7-points, 8.6-rebounds and 2.6-assists per game a season ago. Despite missing the final eight games of her junior season due to injuries, Tucker was named Class 5A All-State Honorable Mention. Mouser has entertained recruiters from the likes of Faulkner University, University of Pikeville, Southeastern Baptist and Snead State. Those contacts came after she was the team’s leading scorer last year with 16-points per game and also had 4.2-rebounds and 2.3-three assists. Boyd added 9.5-points, 2.8-rebounds and 2-assists per outing to establish herself as a team talent. Both Mouser and Boyd were chosen All-Area for their great play.

“Seeing them lead our team this year is exciting and I believe will take us to the level we need to be a competitive state contender in our new classification,” said Baldwin as the Mustangs drop to Class 4A this season.

Baldwin is also keeping an eye on two newcomers to the squad in juniors Marlee Hedgebeth and Dejah Hyter. “They will be key in every game and have been putting in great work over the pre-season and we are excited to see what they can bring to our success,” added Baldwin.

The remaining squad members include juniors Sienna Brown and Mya Western, sophomores Kenzie Privett, Janelle Lowery, Maggie Boyd, Hailey Bellomy and Sydney Casmer and freshman Royal Weed.

The 2024-2025 schedule for the Lady Mustangs includes stops in Corinth, Miss. and Gulf Shores, but the goal is to make a final stop in Birmingham in February for the State Tournament.