Queen City’s Jones earns Gazette’s 2017 All-Area Player of the Year
QUEEN CITY, Texas—Jessica Jones is proof that hard works pays off.
Jones, a junior shooting guard and small forward at Queen City High School, has been selected as the Gazette’s 2017 All-Area Player of the Year. She helped lead the Lady Bulldogs to a perfect 14-0 District 14-3A record.
“Jessica is a great kid and works hard,” Bulldog head coach Janice McMellon said. “She is outgoing, friendly, funny, and helps keep the team together.”
Even though the Queen City standout missed four games because of injury, she averaged 22.2 points per game, hit an average of three 3-pointers a game, and made 66 treys in 24 games.
Jones averaged 5.1 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 block, and 2 steals per contest for the Bulldogs. She was selected to the Texas Girls Coaches Association All-State team, was District 14-3A Most Valuable Player, and also was academic all-district.
“She encourages others and sets the tone in practice,” McMellon said. “She comes out hard and expects others to go hard, too.
“Jessica works with young kids and is patient with them. She’ll show them how to shoot and dribble, and it’s interesting to see such a strong athlete have a soft spot and a way with kids. She’ll get out there and run around the court and play with them.”
The girls’ Player of the Year would bring along a basketball
when she went out on walks with her dad. Jones would dribble the ball and work on her handling as they walked.
Not only is Jones a solid basketball player, but she is a member of Queen City’s 4x200 and 4x400 track relay teams.
“She runs fast and dribbles, shoots, passes and jumps well,” McMellon said. “Jessica loves the game and has put in many hours at the gym to get stronger and increase her stamina.”
The District 14-3A MVP plays on an Athletic Amateur Union, her second straight year to be part of the team. The AAU is an organization that is dedicated to the promotion and development of amateur sports and physical fitness programs.
Jones is a Girl Scout and has been active with her church for a long time.
“Another thing I look for is the kind of student my athletes are,” McMellon said. “Jessica takes care of her school work, is respectful, and I have never had any kind of issue with her from other teachers.”
Queen City’s basketball star has not become complacent with her skill levels and constantly works diligently to improve.
“Jessica is dedicated with everything she’s involved in,” McMellon said. “She gets her wonderful character from her parents, who have done a great job.”
Jones help lead the Bulldogs to a playoff berth, where Queen City fell to Prairiland, 55-51, in the bi-district round. Jones led all scorers with 28 points and made eight treys in the losing effort.
The Bulldogs finished the season with a 21-7 record and were undefeated district champions.