Shacoria Jones led the Griffin High Lady Bears basketball team with 13 points in a 60-34 loss Tuesday night at home against region 4-AAAA Div. B first-place Jonesboro. Losing this game put Griffin in a three-way tie for No. 2 in the subregion and allowed Jonesboro to sweep the season series.

Although Jonesboro (15-4 overall, 9-2 Region 4-AAAA Div. B) remained ahead for the entire game, both teams seemed equal early on. In the first half, the Lady Cardinals built an 8-2 lead before the Lady Bears (9-11 overall, 6-5 Region 4-AAAA Div. B) put together a 5-0 run to get within one of the Lady Cardinals. Jonesboro answered with a three-pointer to head into the second quarter ahead 11-7.

Then the Lady Cards began to break the game open. It started with second-chance points in the paint for Jonesboro. The only Lady Bear that managed to give her team a chance down low was Xandria Hosely, who had three key rebounds early in the second.

Griffin continued to play poorly throughout the half, ultimately leading to a 24-14 deficit at halftime.

Griffin struggled with no size in the post, trouble in transition defense, an inability to get the ball up the court and a failure to get passes over tall defenders. However, the one facet of Griffin ‘s game that seemed to improve as the contest went on was perimeter defense.

Its guards, especially Jones and Aurelia Mangham, were able to contain the Lady Cardinals guards for the better part of three quarters.

The third quarter was not pretty. Jonesboro got out to a 19-1 run that lasted about four minutes. During the entire streak, Griffin only brought the ball over halfcourt twice. The only reason the Lady Bears broke out of their rut was because of Jones’ floaters in the lane.

Hosely pulled through again at the end of the third, taking a charge and putting back an offensive rebound for two to cut the lead to 49-25 heading into the fourth.

Griffin will play subregion opponent Upson-Lee at home at 7:30 p.m. Friday before heading off to face cross-town rival Spalding on Saturday at SHS.

GRIFFIN HIGH GIRLS

Date |Opponent |Time/Score

11/19 |vs. Lowndes |L 45-39

11/20 |vs. Valdosta |L 64-29

11/27 |WOODLAND* |L 46-35

12/4 |Stockbridge* |W 49-32

12/7 |DUTCHTOWN* |W 46-44

12/8 |HENRY CO. |L 47-45

12/11 |L. GROVE* |L 48-43

12/14 |E. Landing* |W 57-46

12/15 |LAMAR |W 60-49

12/18 |Lamar |W 61-53 OT

12/21 |vs. Pike Co. |L 53-34

12/22 |vs. Upson-Lee |W 43-39

1/4 |Jonesboro* |L 46-39

1/5 |Dutchtown |L 48-40

1/8 |Upson-Lee* |L 1-0 FFT

1/11 |SPALDING* |W 49-46

1/15 |Riverdale* |W 52-42

1/18 |N. Clayton* |W 51-47

1/19 |NORTHSIDE-WR |L 42-32

1/22 |JONESBORO* |L 60-34

1/25 |UPSON-LEE* |6:00

1/26 |Spalding* |6:00

2/1 |RIVERDALE* |6:00

2/5 |N. CLAYTON* |6:00