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Adamson wants North Augusta to play to potential

By David Shelton

Senior Writer

North Augusta – Prior to the start of region 5-AAAA play, North Augusta girls basketball coach Jared Adamson admits to be quite impressed with the way his team was playing.

Entering this season, North Augusta was less-experienced than the team that won 20 games last season.

 The Lady Yellow Jackets surprised many by winning 11 of the first 13 games overall. Included among those early wins was a victory over West Ashley, a quality AAAA playoff team of a year ago.

However, once the team hit region play, things have been average, according to Adamson. North Augusta split its first six league games and sits in third-place in the region standings with four games to play.

“I thought we beat some pretty good teams early on and we were playing with confidence,” said Adamson, now in his fifth season. “We have not come to play with intensity once we hit region play. I’m not sure the reason why but we just haven’t come ready to play on a nightly basis.

“We don’t have much depth at all and maybe that’s some of the reason but I know we can play better than we have in the last few weeks.”

Two underclassmen have been leading the way for the Lady Yellow Jackets this season.

Junior forward Jasmine Coach is the team’s top scorer and rebounder, averaging 13.2 points and nine rebounds per game this season.

Sophomore small forward Mallory Stone is averaging 11.4 points and 6.7 rebounds, while senior center Teanda Cunningham is averaging 9.5 points and 8.9 boards per game.

Two guard Jurell Coach is the team’s other starting senior while the point guard is junior Arielle Houston.

Adamson feels his team can make a nice run in the upcoming state playoffs if they bring their ‘A’ game.

“We have done it before, I have seen us play very well, so I know we have it in us,” said the coach. “If we put everything together, I think we’re a pretty tough team. The key is for everyone to focus and for everyone to give effort for four quarters. “

North Augusta closes out the regular season with games against White Knoll, South Aiken, Aiken and Orangeburg-Wilkinson.

O-W leads the region with a 6-0 record while Lexington is 5-1. North Augusta lost to Lexington twice and once to O-W.

Barring a total collapse at the end, North Augusta is assured of at least third-place in the region standings, which would send them on the road in the first-round of the lower state AAAA playoffs.

South Aiken sits at 2-4 in league play with four to play while White Knoll and South Aiken are 1-5.

 

 

sp; ?We had our good moments and we had some that were horrible too,? he said. ?We had two turnovers and way too many penalties. We just have to get better. If we can do that, we can be pretty good. If we don?t, we can?t expect to keep winning.? <o:p></o:p>

        Those little things are what has been the focus of this week?s practices. <o:p></o:p>

        ?We have to think about ourselves,? he said. ?We have to work on those things that we can control and not worry about those we can?t, like the weather, the officials and to some extent what the other team does. <o:p></o:p>

         ?We had a touchdown and several long runs called back,? he added. ?We had 12 penalties and we have to work on that. That?s something that we can control.? <o:p></o:p>

         The Yellow Jackets won handily, but the coaches weren?t fooled and neither was anybody else. <o:p></o:p>

         ?It was a typical opening game,? Pippin said. ?There were a lot of mistakes, but the good thing was that we won. We know that we didn?t play well and our players know that too. That?s a good thing.?