JEFFERSON’S girls’ basketball team is perhaps a few missed free throws away from a hotter start.
After winning its opener against Heritage Nov. 19, the Lady Dragons (1-2) struggled from the foul line in losses to Mountain View Friday and Cedar Shoals Saturday in the Tabo’s Tip-Off Tournament.
“The whole tournament, one of the issues we’ve had is just not being able to convert from the free throw line,” coach Jason Gibson said.
Jefferson went 12-for-28 in its 53-41 loss to Mountain View, with 15 misses in the second half, and was 6-of-16 in a close 35-30 loss to Cedar Shoals. That’s a combined 18-of-44 in the last two games.
“If we can somehow learn to convert a little bit better percentage on those, then I feel like we could have very easily been in the hunt in both of those games at the end,” Gibson said.
Jefferson faces Winder-Barrow at home Friday and takes to the road Saturday to face Rabun County, a fellow region team that is ranked no. 5 in Class AA. The Lady Dragons continue to prepare for the subregion schedule that begins in December.
“We’re preparing our kids — hopefully — for what is a very unforgiving region,” Gibson said.
Despite his team’s struggles at the line, the coach said he was “very proud” of his team in the tournament as it faced two Class AAAA teams and a Class AAAAA squad.
“This tournament is always extremely tough,” Gibson said.
In the game against Cedar Shoals, the Lady Jaguars hit a go-ahead three pointer with 12 seconds left and then tacked on two free throws in a five-point win over Jefferson in the third-place game. The Lady Dragons had previously tied the contest at 30 after being down by five late.
Skylar Evanson hit three three-pointers and scored 10 points to lead Jefferson. She was the only Lady Dragon in double figures.
“Even though we didn’t execute and play as well as I think we’re capable of playing, we still did enough to be there with a chance to win the game or potentially put yourself up for the last possession of the game,” Gibson said.
In the Lady Dragons’ loss a day earlier to Mountain View, Sarah Wood led Jefferson with 10 points, while Rachel Goza added eight.
“I thought we battled; I thought we played hard,” Gibson said. “Mountain View is Class AAAAA. They’re very athletic. They have a couple big kids.”
In addition to their free throw shooting troubles, the Lady Dragons committed 34 turnovers, largely due to Mountain View’s pressure.
Jefferson was without Evanson, who was out for this game with illness. Gibson said Jordan Phillips and Brittany Boyd did a good job stepping up. The coach also said that his team played well defensively and rebounded well against a larger team.
“Again, we just kind of shot ourselves in the foot with some of the turnovers and free throws,” Gibson said.
