GBB: Jones sets scoring record as Stars outplay Chargers

DOVER — Madison Jones got into a groove early Friday night in her last home game as a Lady Star. And once she got going, there was little North Montgomery could do to stop her. Jones scored 20 points in the first quarter, and finished with a Boone County girls single-game record 59 points, as Western Boone topped North Montgomery 87-30. She also scored her 2,000th point in the game. “Madison had a goal in sight and as a team, we really wanted her to get that tonight,” Western Boone head coach Megan Alexander said. “That is a phenomenal achievement for any athlete. We have a great group of girls, and they wanted to see their teammate succeed like that. Madison came out aggressive, the girls came out aggressively and we were able to get her some easy shots.” The game was over in the opening minutes. The Chargers turned the ball over seven times in the first 3:30 minutes of the game, as Western Boone scored the first 14 points of the game, all from Jones. The lead was 24-4 after the first quarter, and grew to 31-4 early in the second. “They were very aggressive and did a good job in their 2-2-1 full-court press,” North Montgomery head coach Ryan Nuppnau said. “We had some careless turnovers, didn’t look in the right spots and they took full advantage of it. They wanted to get out to an early lead and executed that well.” The lead was 43-10 at the half, with Jones having 31 points. Then it became record-watch time. Jones went on a personal 10-0 run to get her 2000th point with 2:32 left in the third quarter, and then had five more quick points to reset her school-record with 51 points. Jones came back in for the fourth quarter, and scored eight points to get to 59 with 3:55 to go in the game. The 59 points are the fourth most in a single game in state history. “She is tough because she wants it really bad,” Nuppnau said. “When you go to open gyms in the summertime and play them and some other teams, when Western Boone isn’t playing she is on another court getting shots up. When you have someone with that desire and passion, it is tough to stop. She has practiced well to deserve this.” Along with Jones, Western Boone got six points from Hillary Reed and Kara Brewer. Western Boone finishes the regular season 14-9 and are entering the sectional with some momentum. Western Boone is back in action Friday at the Cloverdale Sectional, facing the winner of Monrovia and Cascade. North Montgomery is also off until Friday, facing the winner of Benton Central and Greencastle. “We have to come out and be tougher,” Nuppnau said. “We can’t be scared and intimidated, and just got out and play. We have nothing to lose, and when you have nothing to lose, that is when you should be the most dangerous, because you just go all out.”