By Elena Roberts
Emotions were high as Jackson Academy’s longtime girls basketball coach, Jan Sojourner, left her home court for the final time Tuesday at JA’s Raiderdome in Northeast Jackson.
The night was full of celebration with the night being Sojourner’s last home game, winter fest court, and senior night for Belle Shoemaker, Kirsten Cornelius, Brooke Dennis, and Aubrey Edmonson.
The Lady Raiders went into the game 18-6 overall and 5-3 in conference. Their opponents, Madison St. Joseph, were 9-19 overall and 0-8 in conference. Opening varsity action was the Winterfest court. Weathersby Dinkins took home the Winterfest queen alongside Matt Thomas as Winterfest king.
The Lady Raiders then ran out of the locker room, some for the last time. JA started Edmonson, Shoemaker, Dennis, Jayden Rhymes, and Cornelius. St. Joe started Jordin Keys, Courtney Funchess, Jasmine Woodard, Chasity Kern, and Charis Ngong.
St. Joe girls basketball coach Tommy Groves honored Sojourner before the game stating how special Sojourner is as a coach.
“Jan is one of the top basketball coaches in Mississippi,” Groves said. “Her teams always play fundamentally sound tough basketball. Jan will be missed!”
The game opened with a three-point score from Edmonson after a scoreless first minute of play. A quick steal and score from Rhymes shortly following drew the first timeout of the game from the Bruins. From there the Lady Raiders quickly took control of the game going up 10-0. By the time the score was at 12-3 every senior had scored. By the end of the first quarter, the Raiders were up 12-5.
Sojourner opened up the second quarter with a younger five that continued the Lady Raiders domination. Toward the end of the second quarter, the Lady Raiders were 6 of 11 from the three with a 17-point lead. The second quarter ended at 25-10.
The Lady Raiders shot 9 of 32 from the field for 28 percent. Only four free throws were shot by the Lady Raiders with two total made. The team went 5 for 13 from behind the arc. JA made only had four.
Edmonson scored the first points of the half going one for two on the free throw line. The third quarter was heavy with free throws as the Lady Raiders went on a 9-0 run to start the third quarter. To finish the third quarter JA went on a 16-6 run for a 41-16 lead.
Ella King opened up the scoring in the fourth quarter on the free throw line. Cornelius began the seniors’ dissent from the court at 2:55 on the clock. From there Brooke, Shoemaker, and Edmonson would follow respectively. The team finished the game with the next line of Lady Raiders: Aubrey Chambers, Avery Pickering, Avery Buchanan, King, and Mylee Maurer.
Sophomore forward Maurer said she felt blessed to be a part of this team. She emphasized the many lessons Sojourner has taught her over the past two years.
“Coach is truly such a light in this world,” Maurer said. “She makes things fun, and she truly believes in us. She pushes us to be the best we can, and we all love her. She will be greatly missed as our coach.”
This year marks Sojourner’s 40th year at JA. Throughout her time, she garnered 10 MAIS state championships, six overall state championships, and 1,052 total wins, third most in Mississippi history for girls basketball.
Bryan Eubank, the voice of Raider network and Sports Information Director, emphasized the blessing Sojourner has been in her player’s lives.
“I am confident that Coach Sojourner will one day see the profound impact of her life, but I will be forever grateful for the incredible influence she made in my life and in the life of my children,” Eubank said. “Her lessons on and off the court will resonate for years to come.”
Senior guard Edmonson repeated Eubank’s sentiments expressing how special it was for her to get to play under Sojourner following in the footsteps of many of her family members.
In her final home interview with Eubank and Tommy Barnette on the Raider Network, Sojourner discussed handling the emotions of ending the 40-year chapter.
“I am good at moving on to something else,” Sojourner said. “Not dwelling on it. Move on and come back to it later. I did look one time because my family was sitting over there in the corner, and at the end, I did look over at them, and I saw Nan just staring at me. I had to turn away. I said, ‘I can’t do this.’”
Sojourner quickly turned the attention from herself to her seniors.
“God is so good because he made it a special night for the seniors,” Sojourner said. “My focus was alright as soon as the game was over, and we had to get things together. So, at the end of the game, I was trying to get the seniors to make sure they all got out of the ball game. I was stressed out over that.”
Edmonson likewise turned the attention back to Sojourner.
“The team has considered it an honor to be a part of Sojourner’s last season, and something that we will always remember,” Edmonson said. “It has driven us to work even harder to make sure we make it a special season for her to end her career.”
JA athletic director Brandt Walker highlighted Sojourner’s off-court relationship with her players as well as her on-court.
“What truly sets her apart isn’t just her great record of success — it’s the many lives she’s touched both on and off the court,” Walker said. “She has been a life coach to so many students and families, showing passion, hard work, and determination in all she does. Her impact on the program is strong and wide-reaching, leaving a lasting mark on generations of students at JA and beyond. Her dedication to our mission is a legacy that will live on long after her time coaching basketball. Coach Sojourner has made a big difference in my life and my family’s, and she is a special part of our love and commitment to JA.”
Sojourner has one last road game against Presbyterian Christian School Friday in Hattiesburg, before the state tournament Tuesday at Hartfield in Flowood.
