Westview's Tasia Jones returns for postseason push

Entering the 2016-17 season, the Westview girls basketball team was coming off of its fourth straight trip to the state tournament with a majority of the team returning.

At the end of the last season, the Lady Chargers were already in the conversation as one of the teams favored to be in a state title hunt this year.

But in May, Westview's floor general, Tasia Jones, a junior, went down with an ACL injury during a playday, and the assurance of another state tournament run was called into question.

"I got on a fast break for a layup, and a girl fouled me," Jones said. "I came down on my right, and that is how I tore it."

Westview had plenty of weapons around Jones to be good, but how good was an unknown as the team would have to rely on sophomores and freshmen to provide quality minutes.

As this season approached, it was known that Jones would be out until at least Christmas as she worked to rehab her injury to get back on the floor.

"It was hard because I love the game so much, so it was hard to sit out, but I enjoyed being able to cheer my teammates on," Jones said.

And that is what Jones did the first half of the year. She encouraged her team, helped the younger players settle into their new roles and every time a 3-pointer was made, down the bench Jones would go for high-fives.

"I knew that if one of my teammates were in my situation, they would support me and our team," she said. "I felt the least I could do was support them."

All the while, Jones was working through the rehab program to get her knee stronger, so that she could soon return to the court.

"It was difficult, but I stuck with it," Jones said. "As soon as I could start running, I ran a lot. While the team was practicing, I was up top running to stay in shape."

But Westview continued to do what was necessary to win. The Lady Chargers won their first nine games of the season, and they entered into District 13-AA play with a 15-2 record.

Jones missed the first round of district games as she practiced with the team, but Westview went 4-0 in those games. So when Jones returned, there was no pressure that she had to bring wins for the team.

"They all stepped up and played as a team," Jones said. "They won as a team."

Jones returned to the court on Jan. 24 against Milan, the only team Westview had not faced in the district. Since her return, the Lady Chargers are 4-0.

"The hardest thing has been getting into the way that the team has been playing because it is not the same as last year," she said. "So I have been working to fit in. Getting back comfortable and having confidence in myself has been hard, too."

Two more games remain — Obion County and Milan — before the District 13-AA tournament, where the Lady Chargers will be the No. 1 seed.

"I don't think I am 100 percent yet," Jones said. "I think it is more mental than physical for me.

"The goal is still the same: to get to Murfreesboro. As time goes on, I will be more comfortable. My teammates have been encouraging me to keep going. My teammates and coaches are really helping me get comfortable once again."

Reach Michael Odom at michodom@jacksonsun.com or 731-425-9754. Follow him on Twitter @JSWriterMichael.