Seniors Jensyn Turner and Jasmine McKnight Power Lady Wolverines to Region Win
By: Garrett Mitchell, Staff Writer
garrett@thewoodrufftimes.com
If there was an open shot, Jensyn Turner made it.
If there was a rebound to be had, Jasmine McKnight grabbed it.
The two Woodruff seniors each had monster nights last Friday as the Lady Wolverines’ basketball team stormed past Greer Middle College Charter, 67-24.
It was a much-needed win for Woodruff, too.
The Lady Wolverines had dropped their previous two conference games, and without having practiced in six days due to winter weather, it was a re-acclimation on the fly.
No problem.
First Half Dominance
Woodruff rolled to a 19-6 lead after one quarter and led 40-13 at the half.
Turner scored 12 first-half points, while also slicing through the Lady Blazers’ defense with ease to find open and easy shots for her teammates.
On the other end was McKnight, who was an absolute terror on the boards.
McKnight ripped down 17 rebounds in the first half alone, to go with eight points in the first two quarters.
It was complimentary basketball at its best, being played by the Lady Wolverines.
Players Lead the Way
“There was effort from everybody, even off the bench,” said Turner.
“After a tough loss (to Union County), we just got together and refocused.”
The second half saw more of the same dished out by Woodruff.
Turner added 16 more points over the final two quarters, including a flurry of assists that nearly led to her second triple-double of the season.
Jensyn finished just shy, with a final, masterful stat line of 28 points, nine assists, and nine steals.
McKnight finished the night with 12 points and a career-high 22 rebounds.
It was Jasmine’s third consecutive game in double figures scoring.
McKnight’s Impact
“It’s all about boxing out and jumping to get the ball,” explained McKnight.
“We all played with a lot of intensity. It feels amazing. Even with no practice (for six days), we came out and dominated.”
Coach’s Perspective
Woodruff coach Jon Jansen was thrilled with how his team played, saying they rose to the occasion despite difficult circumstances thrown their way by the recent inclement weather.
“We were well rested,” stated Jansen.
“I think (the team) was really hungry to get back together and play some basketball. It was a good night to be a Wolverine.”
“Jensyn and Jasmine played very well off one another. Teams tend to collapse (defensively) on Jensyn, which can leave Jasmine open.”
“If they double down on Jas, then Jensyn has to go hit the shot. She did a great job hitting shots tonight.”
Balanced Scoring
There were plenty of other contributors for the Lady Wolverines.
Jaylen Means, Ella Flack, and Alexis Baldwin all finished with seven points, and all but one player on the roster scored.
Senior Emma Vaughn turned in her best game, too, with four rebounds, two steals, a blocked shot, and an assist to go with a made basket.
The win improved the Woodruff girls to 9-9 on the season with a 4-2 record in region play.
“It felt great (to get this win), and we wanted to send a message,” Turner added.
Boys: Woodruff 60, Greer Middle College Charter 50
Boys Game Recap
The boys game saw a bit more drama.
The Woodruff men’s team trailed for three quarters against the Blazers but rallied with a monster second half to finally put the Blazers away in a 60-50 victory.
It was a slow start for Woodruff, and Greer Middle College took advantage early by hitting several three pointers in the first and second quarters to take a 30-24 lead into halftime.
From there, the Wolverines began to chip away.
Second Half Surge
Woodruff outscored Greer Middle College 17-10 in the third quarter, behind strong play from Dre Jenkins and Grayson Patterson, to take their first lead of 41-40 into the fourth period.
From there, the Wolverines dropped an avalanche on top of the struggling Blazers.
Jackson McCarley knocked down two fourth-quarter threes, with Zy Stewart also connecting from long distance.
Patterson added two more buckets, and Jenkins punctuated the victory with a thundering one-handed slam dunk in the final minutes.
Boys Stat Leaders
Woodruff (8-9, 3-3) was led by Patterson’s 19 points and 10 rebounds.
Jenkins finished with 18 points.
McCarley chipped in with 10 points, six rebounds, four steals, and four assists.
Junior Kelan Hunter dished out a career-high seven assists off the bench, and Brendan Morgan scored a season-high six points on two big first-quarter three-pointers.
Author: Tracy Sanders
