Jackson County Lady Blue Devils guard Jalynn Meadows said the difference between a good game and a great one often comes down to how her team starts.
“I think we just need to get more ready to play for the beginning of the games,” Meadows said. “We play with more intensity at the end, so I think we just need to play with that intensity for the whole game.”
Heading into February, Jackson County is 4-3 in games decided by 10 points or less, a reflection of both the team’s resilience and the pressure-packed moments Meadows says can define a night.
Meadows has been at the center of several big performances this season. She opened December with a 19-point, seven-rebound, six-assist outing in a win over Gordonsville, then followed it up in January by shooting 70 percent from the field while scoring 17 points in a victory against Livingston Academy. Meadows said for her, success starts long before tipoff.
Meadows said the Lady Blue Devils make it a point to connect off the court, often bonding over meals together before games. Meadows said that chemistry translates directly to how they play once the ball goes up.
As the season pushes into its final stretch, Meadows said she is focused on growing into a stronger voice for her teammates, especially when momentum starts to swing.
“I want to see me be a better leader than I have been,” Meadows said. “I want to help lead our team and then, on the closer games, be able to step up more and make everybody, help them keep their attitudes up.”
Meadows said keeping spirits high and energy steady can be the difference between closing out a win and watching one slip away.
“[We’re looking to] lift everybody up,” Meadows said. “[We] try to take control of the games.”
Meadows said for her, the goal is simple: Bring the late-game intensity from the opening tip, and lead the Lady Blue Devils together, one possession at a time.