Add a free throw here or there. Subtract a turnover or two. Jefferson just might be 3-0.
Instead the Lady Dragons (1-2) are off to a mediocre start after losing narrowly twice during last week’s Tabo’s Tip-Off Tournament at Jefferson High School.
“I think we’re going to be in a lot of close games this year,” coach Jason Gibson said. “Sometimes when you have young kids, they don’t really know how to step on the gas.”
Jefferson returns to the court Friday at home against Johnson.
Gibson said he feels his young team isn’t totally comfortable yet and a quick look at the stat book tells the story.
Jefferson hit just 4-of-18 free throws and shot only 1-of-17 from three-point range in its 32-31 season-opening loss to West Hall Nov. 20. The Lady Dragons then turned the ball over 31 times in a 44-41 loss to Cedar Shoals Saturday. That included a crucial turnover with 11 seconds left when Jefferson could have tied the game.
“We weren’t mentally prepared to play that ball game,” Gibson said. “We threw it all over the place.”
Gibson said his team was more patient offensively and shot better in its lone win thus far — a 49-41 victory Nov. 23 over Mountain View, a newer Class AAAAA school out of Gwinnett County. Rachel Goza led Jefferson with 14 points, including two big three-pointers.
“It was good for our kids to get that first win,” Gibson said. “Mountain View was much-improved and has a couple of really talented kids.”
Not coincidently, the Lady Dragons did much better at the charity stripe in that game, going 17-of-30 with several key makes down the stretch to salt away the victory.
“That’s a big confidence booster for our kids,” Gibson said.
Jefferson moves on this week trying to make amends for its week one mistakes. The Lady Dragons face Johnson at home Friday and Mountain View on the road Saturday in a rematch with the fledgling Lady Bear program.
“Our focus is improving upon the mistakes we made in the Tabo’s Tournament,” Gibson said.
Despite Jefferson’s 1-2 start, Gibson sees several positives.
Freshmen Kellie Goza and Bailey Boyd led Jefferson with 11 points and nine points respectively against Cedar Shoals.
“The two freshmen are playing better every time they step onto the floor,” Gibson said.
Gibson also notes the solid bench play of Sarah Wood and Breanna Whatley and the return of Jakeia Wilson (who scored 10 points against Mountain View) — the team’s best defender — to the lineup.
“Having her back makes our defense a lot stronger,” Gibson said.
