Johnson scores 39 as top-ranked Jones routs Gulf Coast, 98-67

Jakayla Johnson (3) had 39 points for No. 1 Jones College as the Bobcats routed Gulf Coast, 98-67, on Saturday. Photo/Reagan Buckley, Jones College Sports Information
Jakayla Johnson (3) had 39 points for No. 1 Jones College as the Bobcats routed Gulf Coast, 98-67, on Saturday. Photo/Reagan Buckley, Jones College Sports Information
Posted: Mar 20, 2021

By Shawn Wansley

Jones College Sports Information

ELLISVILLE – Jakayla Johnson (Clinton) put on quite a show for top-ranked Jones College here Saturday afternoon at A.B. Howard Gymnasium.

 

Johnson scored 39 points – 30 in the first half – to help the Bobcats to a 98-67 rout of Mississippi Gulf Coast. 

 

It was JC's 17th straight victory and 19th consecutive win over the Bulldogs.

 

Jones is now 14-0 overall and 12-0 in the MACCC. The Bobcats will go to Pearl River for a 6 p.m. game on Wednesday.

 

Johnson made 10-of-17 field goals, 4-of-6 3-pointers and 15-of-19 free throws. She also had five rebounds, four steals and two assists.

 

The Bobcats led 28-27 after a fast-paced first quarter. 

 

Jones took control with a 9-0 run to start the second quarter, capped by a Johnson jumper, to take a 37-27 lead with 7:28 to play in the first half. The Bobcats would lead 55-38 at halftime.

 

A reverse layup by Lekera Hughes (Oak Grove) ended a 7-2 run to begin the third quarter and put Jones ahead 62-40 at the 7:41 mark. Jones led 76-52 entering the final period.

 

JC's longest lead came at 92-54 with 4:48 remaining on a pair of Daisha Bradford (Mobile, Alabama) free throws.

 

Endia Holliday (South Jones) had 13 points and five rebounds with Bradford scoring 12 points. Bradford also had seven assists and three steals. Ebony Gayden (McComb) came off the bench to score 10 points and get four rebounds. Substitute Janai Mason (Brandon) had seven points and 11 rebounds.

 

Sharisse Bridges led MGCCC with 18 points and 11 rebounds and Aniya Saddler added 17.

 

Jones shot 48 percent (31-of-65) and made 32 percent (6-of-19) from behind the 3-point line. The Bobcats were 30-of-40 from the free throw line.

 

The Bulldogs made 44 percent from the floor (22-of-50) and 50 percent from beyond the arc (5-of-10). Gulf Coast was 18-of-25 from the free throw line.

 

Jones outrebounded the Bulldogs, 40-33. The Bobcats committee 21 turnovers and forced 31 Gulf Coast turnovers.

 

The Bobcats outscored Gulf Coast 36-18 in points off turnovers and 14-0 on fast break points.

 

The Bulldogs, 5-8 overall and 4-8 in conference play, host Meridian on Monday.