Lady Canes Earn First Win of Season at Home

It has been a definite learning experience for the Jasper County-Monticello High School Lady Canes on the basketball court this season.

The team has continued to work and improve and on Tuesday earned its first victory of the 2020-2021 season with a last-second 48-47 victory against visiting Lincoln County High School.

Ariana Johnson made a steal with four seconds remaining and Hailie Tripp then made the game-winning basket at the buzzer. The win improved the Lady Hurricanes to 1-3.

“I am proud of the girls,” said coach Robert Strong. “We fell behind late but never quit.”

Jazmyne Thomas had a huge offensive performance with 28 points. Thomas had eight points in the first quarter and nine in the second. In the second half, Thomas scored eight points in the third quarter and three in the game’s final eight minutes.

Tripp finished with seven points, including a 3-pointer while Madison Smith and Kate Robinson both scored five. Johnson connected on a 3-point basket in the third quarter.

The team scored eight points in the first quarter before adding 15 points in the second and 13 more in the third quarter. Strong’s team finished the game with 12 points in the contest’s final eight minutes to record the victory.

The Lady Canes were not able to play last Saturday against Oconee County High School in a scheduled non-region contest. The game was not played due to COVID-19 concerns.

To this point in the season, three games have not been played due to COVID-19 and the scheduled Christmas tournament for the team has also been cancelled.

Jasper County-Monticello’s next scheduled contest is January 2 against region foe Northeast-Macon on the road.