By Robert Wilson
Terry High girls basketball coach Ruth Buck said her best player, Madison Jones, didn’t like it when they lost last year in the MHSAA Class 6A state championship game.
Said Buck: “She’s ready to help us make another run for the coliseum. In her words, ‘I don’t like being runner-up.’’
The 6-foot-1 sophomore center took one more step toward that goal last week when she scored a career-high 29 points, a career-high 15 blocked shots, and 9 rebounds to lead Terry to a 52-38 victory over Hattiesburg in MHSAA Class 6A, Region 3 game at Hattiesburg.
For her outstanding performance, Jones was named the Junction Deli/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Girls Basketball Player of the Week.
Jones made 13 of 14 shots from the field and her blocked shots was three short of the Mississippi record, set by Moss Point’s BranDee Fry against Harrison Central during the 1999-2000 season.
“Madison was very focused on not fouling and was patient when opponents came in the paint,” Buck said. “Despite Hattiesburg attempting to give her head fakes, Madison’s long arms still gave Hattiesburg problems with scoring in the paint as she caused them to have to alter shots a lot. Offensively, Madison can credit her teammates for getting her the ball consistently as she was assisted at least eight times with six of those on either fast breaks or a roll to the basket.”
Jones – a member is averaging 13 points, 10 rebounds and 7 blocked shots entering this week for this season for Terry, which has a 16-6 overall record and 8-0 record in region play.
“Madison has been consistent all season,” Buck said. “She loves learning more about how to make her game better. Madison is developing on an outside shot and will shoot the 3 if you leave her alone. Madison runs the floor very well and has a high IQ when playing defense.”
Jones averaged 10 points, 10 rebounds and 5 blocked shots and helped Terry to 25-7 record and MHSAA Class 6A runner-up finish and was a fourth team selection on the All-Metro Jackson team last season as a freshman.
She has offers from Southern Miss, Jackson State, Murray State, South Alabama, Tennessee-Martin and University of New Orleans.
Jones is the daughter of Dwight Jones Sr. and Tonya Goldsby. Jones has older siblings, Dwight Jones Jr. and Latrisha Jones. Dwight played tennis, golf, track and basketball for Lanier High. He attended Mississippi State. Latrisha played volleyball, track and was a cheerleader. She ran track for Alcorn State and received her master’s degree from Jackson State. Jones has one niece, Lailah Wright, who runs track and cheers for DFW Hawks.
Mississippi Scoreboard selects a girls basketball player from Hinds, Madison, or Rankin counties each week. Coaches can nominate a player by text or call to Robert Wilson at 601.506.2276.
WEEK ONE: Shamira Morton, Canton
WEEK TWO: Alya Benson, Germantown
WEEK THREE: Karley Robinson, Madison Central
WEEK FOUR: Anna Morgan Anderson, MRA
WEEK FIVE: Jayden Rhymes, Jackson Academy
WEEK SIX: Shamira Morton, Canton
WEEK SEVEN: Liz Stevens, East Rankin Academy
