Free Throws Doom Royals
Thursday-The #1 ranked team in 1A girls basketball lost their first game of the season, losing to Pace (7-0) 57-38. Jay (6-1) knew that they would have their hands full with the undefeated 6A Patriots coming to town and they were right. Jay hung with Pace for the first half, trailing by nine at the break. But Pace would ratchet up their defense in the third quarter and the young Royals couldn’t respond.
“Good effort…we have to execute better versus the pressure though,” Diamond stated after the game. Pace opened up a 20 point lead early in the third quarter, but the Lady Royals did compose themselves and would cut the lead to 15 three different times in the second half, but missed free throws did not help in the comeback attempt. Jay was 10/28, a dismal 36%. Many were the front end of a 1-1 situation as well.
“Pace is outstanding. They will have an amazing year so I’m proud of my girls,” Diamond added. “We needed what we learned from them tonight.”
Up next for Jay is a home game vs. Baker on Friday.
JHS 7 6 6 19-38
PHS 14 8 20 15-57
(A. Nelson 5, P. Hawthorne 15, G. Lewis 2, H. Locklin 2, D. Locklin 3, M. Grimes 4)
