Jacksonville eyeing three-peat conference title
Conference: 5A Central
Coach: Marian Kursh
Assistant coaches: Rodney Gilmore and Tamera Heard
2019-20 record: 20-9
Returning starters: Juniors Da’Kariya Jackson, Brooklyn Roland and Alexis Rowe; and seniors Ariel Morant and Diamond Mathis
For the Jacksonville Lady Titans, the key to get deep into the state tournament with a chance to win will have to come from their bench. Head coach Marian Kursh said the team’s guard play will be very quick, but the players lack big-game experience.
“Our sophomores will have to play with no conscience,” said Kursh who is in her fifth year as head coach at Jacksonville. “We are confident that our returners can get the job done, but we would like to be able to breathe easier when we go to our bench.
“We expect to make a viable run for a state title in this COVID-19 year, but just being able to finish the season healthy would be a tremendous accomplishment for our program.”
Jacksonville finished 20-9 last season with a 12-2 5A-Central record. The coach said another conference championship is well within their sights. Little Rock Christian and Beebe, who are new to the conference this year, will make it tougher, but Kursh said, “We are definitely up to the challenge.”
Returning this year is junior Da’Kariya Jackson, who led the team with 20 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals per game last season. Kursh said Jackson has great quickness and strength when attacking the basket and plays great as an outside shooter.
“She is one of the leading scorers in Class 5A,” the coach said.
Kursh said junior Brooklyn Roland, who averaged 14 points and 5 rebounds per game last season, has vastly improved her outside attack to the basket.
“She is one of the leading 3-point shooters in Class 5A,” Kursh said.
Senior Ariel Morant averaged 12 points and 8 rebounds per game last season, and senior Diamond Mathis averaged 8 points and 9 rebounds per game.
“Ariel is a great inside scorer and rebounder,” Kursh said. “She is one of our strongest scorers and rebounders.
“Diamond is a beast on the boards, and her strength is impeccable, and she is a reliable scorer.”
Kursh said junior Alexis Rowe, who averaged 10 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals per game last season, has “unbelievable length and quickness and an improved dual threat inside and outside.” The coach said senior Alexis Smith is an “outstanding rebounder and is very strong with a lot of post power.”
Jacksonville’s strengths this year will be its offensive and defensive post play, as well as its quickness and experience, Kursh said.
“We are hopeful that our sophomores can make a quick adjustment to our style of varsity play,” Kursh said.
She said games to watch this season are the ones against Sylvan Hills and Little Rock Christian, who won a state championship in 2019. Kursh said the Lady Titans will also face Greenwood, the defending state champion, and Jonesboro, “who is a prolific beast from the East.”
“There is no love lost between us and Sylvan Hills,” Kursh said. “It is a constant physical battle between two programs that are right across the woods from each other.
“Little Rock Christian is the new kid on the block and has joined the conference looking to dethrone the conference champion. To three-peat, we must go through Little Rock Christian Academy.”