Justice returns
- Updated: November 10, 2022
Oxford girls’ strongest, most energetic player makes season debut and a difference in victory over Hillcrest
By Al Muskewitz
East Alabama Sports Today
OXFORD – A big piece of the Oxford girls’ big picture returned to the lineup Thursday night and the difference was striking.
Senior guard Justice Woods made her season debut and gave the Lady Jackets the spark they were missing in the opener and helped them beat Hillcrest-Tuscaloosa 60-41.
The Lady Jackets (2-0) beat Clay Central in their opener by more than 40 points but afterwards coach Melissa Bennett said her team needed to be sharper going forward. Woods gave them the continuity they were lacking.
“Justice has been really good just bringing an intensity to practice, some of that let’s go, let’s get it,” Bennett said. “She always has great energy about her. She’s a very happy kid and she brings that positivity to her teammates.
“She’s very physical, too. She’s our strongest kid and works very hard in the weight room; it’s a badge she wears with honor. This was her first day back. She came to practice yesterday, but just watched. She fought really hard. She was drawing stuff out on the i-pad to make sure she was going to get it.”
Woods missed the opener recovering from the flu, but was in the gym cheering on her teammates. She entered Thursday’s game with 4:28 left in the first quarter and immediately made an impact.
She made a steal and converted it into a bucket that was part of a 10-0 run that gave the Lady Jackets control of the game. She finished with eight points, two rebounds and two steals.
“I was just eager to get out there and play with my team,” Woods said. “We’ve got a lot to prove this year because of what we did last year and I’m just trying to make sure it happens and we get the respect we deserve.
“I’ve been ready to pick the ball back up since they let me and they finally let me loose and I did what I could. It was satisfying, for sure.”
Xai Whitfield led Oxford in scoring for the second game in a row with 16 points. The Lady Jackets put three scorers in double figures, one more than the other night. Mya McGrue had 11 points and Shay Montgomery had 10.
Montgomery also had four rebounds and two blocked shots.
“I thought our bigs played a lot better,” Bennett said. “We don’t always feed our bigs when we need to, but they did good.”
Oxford 60, Hillcrest 41
HILLCREST (1-2) – Nyeisha Davis 1 0-0 2, Trinity Braggs 2 0-0 6, Farrah Buckner 2 1-4 5, Angel Shelton 1 0-0 2, Kennedie Smith 0 0-0 0, Sinaya Gibson 1 1-4 3, Karley Malveo 0 0-0 0, Destiny Smith 0 0-0 0, Blackeley Nixon 6 0-0 12, Jareah Branch 2 0-2 5, Rachel Harris 1 4-4 6. Totals 16 6-14 41.
OXFORD (2-0) – Xai Whitfield 7 1-5 16, Justice Woods 3 2-2 8, Keziah Mickler 2 0-0 5, Mya McGrue 4 3-6 11, Jamea Gaston 1 0-0 3, Bri Wilson 1 0-1 2, Shaniya Calloway 0 0-0 0, Kaylen Kenney 2 1-3 5, Shay Montgomery 3 4-4 10. Totals 23 11-19 60.
| Hillcrest | 8 | 7 | 13 | 13 – | 41 |
| Oxford | 14 | 13 | 14 | 19 – | 60 |
3-point goals: Hillcrest 3 (Braggs 2, Branch); Oxford 3 (Whitfield, Mickler, Gaston). Total fouls: Hillcrest 21, Oxford 19. Officials: Winn, Kelley, Jarrett.
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