By Robert Wilson
Nae Nae Ellis had her best week as a Jackson Academy Lady Raider last week in the Lamar School Christmas Bash in Meridian.
The 5-foot-10 junior forward was named MVP of the tournament after scoring 42 points with 21 rebounds in 49 minutes and leading JA to three victories on three consecutive days.
For her outstanding performance last week, Ellis has been named the Performance Therapy/Mississippi Scoreboard Metro Jackson Girls Basketball Player of the Week.
Ellis had 16 points and five rebounds in 14 minutes in a 56-21 victory Monday over Laurel Christian. She had 11 points and seven rebounds in 11 minutes in a 65-17 victory Tuesday over Newton County Academy. Ellis had 15 points and a season-high nine rebounds in 24 minutes in a 53-25 victory Wednesday over Union High School. She made 18 of 26 shots from the field, 69.2 percent, in the three games.
“Nae Nae had a great tournament,” JA coach Jan Sojurner said. “She made some big shots, grabbed some big rebounds and played good defensively. Nae Nae is improving and playing good basketball in the low post for us. She’s so physical and when she makes shots down low for us it opens up our outside game.”
Ellis is averaging 9.5 points and 5.5 rebounds for 16-1 JA. Ellis scored a season-high 18 points against Madison St. Joseph.
JA’s next game is against Hillcrest Christian next Monday at 6:30 p.m. at JA.
