Mike Ridaught
Friday night’s Hawthorne at GHS girls basketball game was all about grit and grind.
It was competitive, back and forth the whole game, and it came down to one final possession.
GHS junior guard Taylor Mullins missed a 3-pointer from the left wing, and the ‘Canes missed a couple of putbacks with seconds remaining, as the defending 1A state champions survived with a 33-32 road win against last year’s 6A regional semifinalists.
“They beat us last year in Hawthorne so we knew it would be competitive,” said Hawthorne coach Cornelius Ingram. “Their head coach, Jaz (Jazlynd Rollins), she actually coached with me…she knows our program…I’m just happy for her. She’s been able to revamp this Hurricane girls basketball program the last two years.”
Hawthorne junior Jhalea Jackson made one of two free throws with 10.4 seconds to play to give her team a 33-30 lead.
The Hornets (10-3) committed a foul in the backcourt, which sent Jocelynn Wallace (8 points) to the free throw line for two shots with 7.1 seconds to play.
Wallace, who was the only GHS player to be recognized on Senior Night, made both free throws to make it a one-point game.
The Hurricanes (7-10) forced a turnover but after Mullins’ miss they weren’t able to put it in the basket on two final put back attempts as the buzzer sounded.
“Shots weren’t falling,” Rollins said. “It happens. We just didn’t have the momentum tonight. We picked it up in the second half, but the shots weren’t falling.”
Putting the ball in the basket was a challenge for both teams in the opening half, which was tied 12-12 after the first 16 minutes.
Hawthorne took an early 4-0 lead on a 3-pointer by senior Lakijah Brown (9 points).
However, the Lady Hurricanes answered with a 10-0 run as Mullins (team-high 12 points) and junior Rihanna Davis each made 3-pointers for a 10-4 advantage, but that would be their largest lead of the night.
Hawthorne struggled from the free throw line (10-of-25) but junior De’Mya Adams was 4-for-4 in the final quarter and finished with a game-high 13 points.
“She’s huge, man,” Ingram said. “She’s one of the best players in the state and it’s games like this that defines your program.”
In the fourth quarter, it seemed as if momentum was shifting to the purple and white as Hawthorne’s assistant coach was assessed a technical foul.
Wallace made both free throws to make it a one-point game, and then Jayden Terry got by three defenders for a layup as GHS took a 27-26 lead with 5:51 to play.
A left-wing 3-pointer by Mullins gave the ‘Canes a 30-26 lead with 3:52 remaining in the game.
However, Adams would later tie it up 30-30 on a pair of free throws and just seconds later she added a steal and a layup to give Hawthorne a 32-30 lead with 2:12 to play and they never trailed again.
“We were shooting bad all night, from the field, from the free throw line, just a nasty, gritty game, I’m happy we were able to come out with the win,” Ingram said.
With just two weeks left in the regular season, both teams have tough games coming up as they prepare for postseason play.
Hawthorne, which has won seven in a row, will travel to Class 6A No. 13 Orange Park on Monday, followed by a home game against 6A Buchholz on Tuesday and a trip to 4A Eastside next Saturday.
“We’re still trying to find our way,” Ingram said. “We’re undefeated in the new year. I think we’ve improved since we’ve all been together and that’s what it’s about. These kinds of wins in a hostile environment, a well-coached basketball team, that comes down to the wire. It helps you build character going forward. I know what kind of girls I have after this kind of win so I’m definitely pleased.”
GHS, which lost its fourth straight, will travel to 3A No. 12 Trinity Catholic (Ocala) at 7 p.m. on Wednesday and they will close out the season at home against 5A No. 4 Mainland (Daytona Beach) on Feb. 2. “The schedule we play is just to make us better,” Rollins said. “We’ve got to play competition to get better and that’s what it’s all about. I’m just trying to push them to be better as players.”
Awesome photos 🔥