Woodland Girls basketball Team Clinches Play-0ff Berth With Win Over Academic Magnet
Woodland Girls basketball Team Clinches Play-0ff Berth With Win Over Academic Magnet
By Billy G. Baker
Publisher
Dorchester—The Woodland girls’ basketball team played their best offensive game of the season against Academic Magnet at home on February, 7th to claim a 54-36 win and clinch a fourth- place play-off spot also.
Two returning all-region players for the Lady Wolverines stood out in the big win. Sophomore guard Jalina Goodwin scored 17 points, grabbed four rebounds, had four steals and three assists in the big region win. Teammate, senior Makiza White (team captain) scored 12 points, recovered 8 rebounds, and had four assists in the win.
Junior guard Carmen Allen contributed 11 rebounds, two assists and one steal in the win over Academic Magnet while 8th grader Lenaya Ross scored seven points and pulled down 10 rebounds.
“We came into the game with Academic Magnet averaging 35 points a game so to have our best game of the season with 54 points is very encouraging,” said head coach Austin Jefferies. “Depending on how the bracket shakes out and I can definitely see us winning one or two play-off games if we continue to play well.”
Prior to the game with Academic Magnet the HSSR visited Coach Jeffries in the Woodland gym for some comments on the team. “We work hard on our defense every game, seeing the ball and seeing the man and keeping up with the ball is,” said Coach Jeffries. “We do not have a double figure type scorer like we had last year (Gaddis now at Coker after averaging 17 a game as a senior).
“My point guards this season, one is in the 7th grade (Essence Walker) and the other is a sophomore (Jalina Goodwin), so we are young there right now,” said Coach Jeffries. Goodwin went into the Academic Magnet game averaging 4.7 points and 2.4 rebounds a game along with 1.3 assists and 1.7 steals. Walker was averaging 4.8 points a game.
“Jalina is still in that development stage but she has a lot of potential if she will keep working hard,” said Coach Jeffries. “It is a learning process but she is coming along really well.”
Woodland starts four guards. One of the first subs off the bench is 8th grader Brazil Nelson who brings a lot of energy to the court when she comes in. “Brazil is a defensive stopper,” said the coach.
Some other key reserves include junior forward Mercedes Breeland, senior point guard Janette Gates, sophomore guard Emani Smalls, senior small forward Linda White, sophomore Makaila Adgerson, sophomore center Sh’mya James, and junior center Alishanee Ford.
