GIRLS’ HS BBALL: USJ’s Jones putting up big numbers already
Saturday afternoon, University School of Jackson sophomore Anna Jones scored 43 points in a win over Madison.
Those 43 points were two points short of the program record of points in a game set by Lisa DePriest (45) in Jan. 1977 against Bolivar.
With Jones’ scoring ability, she has the potential to be one of top players to ever come through the USJ girls’ basketball program.
“She has a God-given talent,” USJ coach Tony Shutes said. “She loves the game. You can coach a lot and see players with potential, but they don’t have the love for the game that she does. And she works for it.
“I will be home on a Sunday watching my [Dallas] Cowboys, and she will call wanting to get in the gym. I click DVR and get up to let her in the gym.”
Jones passed the 1,000-point mark on Saturday, a feat that is usually accomplished by players during their junior or senior season.
She has scored 627 points this season for an average of 24 points per game, added to that are 158 rebounds, 56 assists and 113 steals on her stat line.
“I am hard on her because I know that she can be an even better player than she thinks that she can be,” Shutes said. “She has played point some this season, and that is not her natural position, but she is now pushing the ball and getting others involved.
“Anna has developed into an all-around player that can play all five positions. You can coach a long time and not get a player like that.”
Those numbers have been big for the Lady Bruins after they had to replace a number of key players following last year.
“We have gotten a lot better because everyone knows their role,” Jones said. “At the beginning, we were still trying to figure it out.
“Morgan [Williams] and Peyton [Jett] with their intensity on defense create our offense. They make everyone else’s job easier.”
With the numbers Jones has put up, she has seen multiple defensive sets teams have drawn up especially to stop her.
“You just can’t let the defense get to you and keep working,” Jones said. “Teams playing a box-and-1 on me opens up my teammates. I have to keep driving and look to kick the ball out to a shooter.”
The post play of players like Molly Hall, Ashton Hulme and Taylor Tenpenny has also improved as the season has progressed and forced defenses to pay them more attention.
“Having them in there makes the defense have to suck in,” Jones said. “It opens us guards up on the outside for 3s.”
By already hitting the 1,000-point mark, Jones could be well on her way to break some career scoring records. DePriest holds the record with 2,235 points scored, and Courtney Alvey is second with 2,070 points.
“I don’t worry about records,” Jones said. “I am more worried about winning games and the team being successful. I will do whatever I can to help my team.”
The Lady Bruins are on a nine-game winning streak with two games remaining in the regular season, and the team has the goals set for the postseason.
“We for sure want to win the first region game unlike last year,” Jones said. “We want to get to sub-state and go from there.
“We are all going to have to play our role and play as a team. On defense, we have to rebound and get stops.”
Michael Odom, 425-9754