Bree Sanford (0) of Jackson Christian High School gets fouled on the way to the basket against Addison High School on Monday. Photo by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.
By Jeff Steers
JTV Sports
Jackson Christian High School basketball player Paiton Hollowood said she was so nervous for the team’s first game, she was jittery on the bench.
The way she played, Hollowood he had no reason to be nervous.
Hollowood scored 16 points, pulled down 12 rebounds, leading the Royals to a 58-32 win at Addison on Monday. It was the first game of the season for both teams.
The Royals won only six games a year ago, but have a solid core of returning players.
“We are looking to keep getting better as the season progresses,” Hollowood said. “We have a scrimmage a week ago, but it is nice to get going (in the regular season).”
The Royals had no problem getting the ball rolling in the first quarter. Jackson Christian jumped out to a 14-2 lead as Bree Sanford and Hollowood combined to score 12 of the Royals’ 16 points at the end of eight minutes of action.
Jackson Christian led 16-6 going into the second quarter.
The Royals stretched the lead to 30-12 at one point in the second quarter before Addison ended the quarter on a 6-4 run.
Mackenzie Stucky scored six points in the quarter and Sanford and Hollowood added five points apiece.
Jackson Christian led 34-18 at halftime.
The Royals outscored the Panthers 15-6 in the third quarter, taking a 49-24 lead into the final eight minutes of action.
Addison’s Courtney Flaws hit a 3-point basket to open the fourth quarter. She scored six of her 10 points in the final quarter. Gina Hanson also tallied 10 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. Ally McLouth finished with five steals for Addison (0-1).
First-year Coach Greg Zaroslinski said the Panthers are young and will get better with experience.
“It is hard to reproduce game speed during practices,” Zaroslinski said. “Rome was not built in overnight.”
Jackson Christian was led by Sanford with 17 points and six steals, Stucky dished five assists and created five steals, and Maggie Hollowood scored six points and pulled down five rebounds for Jackson Christian (1-0).
Second-year Coach Mike Baisden said he added a few new offensive concepts this season.
“It is a little more complex than last year,” Baisden said. “It was good to see them in action.”
Addison will travel to Morenci for a 7 p.m. tipoff on Wednesday, while JCHS will travel to Waldron Friday at 7:30 p.m.
