James Clemens girls fall to Hazel Green, 56-24, in Area tournament

The Jets’ Teandra Hambrick (24) in Area tournament action against Hazel Green Feb. 4. James Clemens would lose 56-24 to end its season. (Record Photo/Nick Sellers)

By Nick Sellers | Staff Writer

HAZEL GREEN – A tough year for the James Clemens girls basketball team ended with a loss to the No. 1-seeded Hazel Green girls in the Class 7A, Area 8 tournament Feb. 4. The Jets finished the season without an Area win under first-year coach Amber Deline.

James Clemens kept it close early with Hazel Green, trailing the Trojans 11-6 after the first period before the Trojans went on a 12-point run, leading the Jets 27-7 at halftime.

“They’ve got both and inside and outside game,” Deline said. “You’ve got your hands full trying to defend the post and then that opens up their perimeter shooting, and when you guard their perimeter shooting that opens up the post. So, they’re a well-balanced team and that should suit them well to make a run.”

The Jets went on a short 5-2 run at the start of the third period, but Hazel Green’s quick adjustments took over. The Jets tightened up on its inside defense, which led to several three-pointers in the second half.

Seniors Kailey Beckett and Katelyn Jenkins led James Clemens with eight points each. Fellow senior Hannah Parks had three points, as did Teandra Hambrick.

“[I told the seniors] that we appreciated them; they’re good kids,” Deline said. “I know the season didn’t turn out like they wanted, but they put a lot of work and effort in it over the years.”

Deline said preparations for the 2015–16 season have started mentally, with an emphasis on upping the scoring and ball-handling skills.

“We’ve kind of got it all etched in our head all along from the season of what we’ve got to work on, so we’ll start next week back at square one,” she said.