The leader the team needed. Beyer’s Jones is Bee’s Girls Basketball Player of the Year
When she was in middle school, Beyer senior Alicia Jones and a group of friends vowed to try every sport before high school.
“Originally, I thought coming into high school I would do track and field because that’s what I love to do but I did basketball and I was surprisingly good at it,” Jones said.
Over time, participating in track faded and her focus was all on the hardwood.
It was the right move as Jones was one of the top scorers in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section. For her efforts, she is the Bee’s Girls Basketball Player of the Year.
Jones averaged 22.8 points per game, fourth in the section and 19th in the state, according to MaxPreps. She also averaged 5.2 rebounds, 4.6 steals, and 3.7 assists a game.
“I had to take on the role of the leader and step up for my teammates to get the wins this year,” Jones said.
Beyer went 22-7 and won a share of the Western Athletic Conference title with Lathrop. The Patriots fell to Kimball in the first round of the Div. III playoffs.
Led by Jones (17 points per game), Beyer also won a share of the Modesto Metro Conference last year.
Jones had seven games with over 30 points this year, including a 40-point performance against Davis on Jan. 8. She also added 11 steals and eight rebounds.
A 5-foot-3 point guard who attacked the basket and had success behind the arc, Jones said she mimics her game after the 2001 NBA Most Valuable Player, Philadelphia 76ers guard Allen Iverson. He averaged over 26 points per game and six assists during his 14-year career.
“He was a small player like me who could get to the rim and also get open,” Jones said. “He created plays for his teammates.”
Jones doesn’t know what her plans are but she does want to play college basketball.
She did say she will be playing for a more competitive travel ball team this summer and hopes it will allow more college colleges to see her play.
Off the court, Jones likes to hang out with friends and travel with her family.
“I am pretty outgoing and goofy,” she said.
-----
All-District Team
Jaydon Williams, Sr, Turlock
Reina Sausedo, Jr, Ripon
Jessica Smith, So, Pitman
Melissa Brady, Sr, Enochs
Nia Boston, Jr, Modesto Christian
This story was originally published March 23, 2019 at 3:08 PM.
