Highlands Middle School head coach Eddie Verrett has quite a legacy to live up to, filling the shoes of his predecessor Coach Carter, now the Athletic Director at Raines High School. The Highlands girls basketball program was one of the top, if not the top, girls program in the city of Jacksonville for years, and “Coach Eddie” as they affectionately call him, was apart of all five city championships as the assistant coach. Well, after Wednesday night Coach Eddie has added one more trophy to his mantle, this time as head coach of the Highlands Girls Basketball team, who was crowned the 2018-2019 champions of Duval County Middle Schools after their impressive win over Kernan Middle School. It was a rematch of the City of Jacksonville Athletics Preseason Classic, and it lived up to the hype and more.
Kernan came ready for this rematch. They waited all year for the chance to get back at Highlands for their lopsided victory over them in the preseason. When I spoke with Kernan’s Coach Amber Smith on Monday after their victory against Jefferson Davis, all she kept mentioning was the chance to face Highlands again in the championship. Highlands was able to beat Kernan the first time around with a full court press that the younger Kernan guards couldn’t handle.
Coach Smith had done her homework for the press and was ready for it when they rolled it out on Wednesday night. The game plan was simple, get the ball up high to Jada Jones, the defense will collapse and then fill in the outside lanes. This plan worked for the Ospreys the entire game, as they were able to break the press with ease.
Yet what they didn’t expect was for Highland’s Deaunna Rosier, the City Championship MVP, to go off for 12 points for the Wildcats and play arguably her best game this season. The Ospreys went up to an early lead halfway through the first quarter but smart plays from Asiana Britt and Rosier willed the Wildcats back to end the quarter and take the lead by 5.
Having to be the point-forward seemed a bit much for Jones as the second quarter continued on, she looked completely gassed for the Ospreys but that allowed Gabby Fajando to strut her stuff as she scored 4 of her 5 total points in the quarter. Jones was tired, and Highland’s post players pushed her out of the paint, forcing her to take longer shots and not be able to get in her comfortable positions for easy buckets. The teams traded baskets throughout the quarter which kept the lead at 5 for the Wildcats at halftime.
Kernan started with the ball to start the half, Highlands stayed in their post defensive zone to keep Jones out of the paint. After back to back points by Britt, the Ospreys went into a box and one to isolate the guard. Jaide Williams started to heat up during this quarter and Highlands began to open their lead over Kernan. Britt and Rosier connected on a beautiful backdoor cut for two points that caused for Kernan to call a timeout, as Highlands lead was now 10 points. A minute remaining in the 3rd quarter, Jones caught her second wind and made a late quarter surge against Highlands, they were able to cut the lead to 8 to end the quarter.
Kernan had six minutes left to turn this game around in their favor if they wanted to take the championship trophy home. Highlands stayed with their full court press and was able to get some turnover fastbreak points to extend their lead to thirteen, yet Kernan never stopped hustling making a late run cutting the lead to five at the minute and a half mark. Highlands decided to hold the ball and force the girls to foul. A great strategy and wonderfully executed by Highlands as five would be the closest Kernan would get before time expired.
Highlands would hoist the trophy with a 42-33 victory. Their return to greatness in middle school basketball is a testament to their hard work and determination. Highlands high scorer was Jaide Williams with 13 points, 9 of which came in the crucial 4th quarter. Jada Jones would lead the game with 22 points for Kernan.
