Medora senior holds down the middle

February 13, 2019

There is no doubt what Skylar Jones’ favorite sport is.

“I love basketball,” the Medora senior said. “I started playing basketball in kindergarten. I’ve enjoyed being with my friends and just playing basketball.”

He has played basketball for three years in high school. He was homeschooled his sophomore year and did not play, but he said he is glad he came back to the high school his junior year.

He has been a two-year varsity starter for the Hornets.

“Toward the end of my senior year, I haven’t been playing as much,” he said. “I think (coach Mark Morin) has been trying to get some of the younger guys more time. Coach usually has me at center. I just go back and forth (across the lane). I like to shoot from the right side. I don’t get to shoot that much, but I feel comfortable shooting jump shots or driving for a layup.”

He said he feels the Hornets can have success against both zone or man defenses.

“To me, it really doesn’t matter,” Jones said. “We have different offenses whatever the other team is playing. I think I like playing more offense against their zone. It’s easier to get shots.”

He likes playing zone on defense.

“I think zone is a lot easier, but it’s a lot lazier, also,” Jones said. “A zone is a lot easier to defend. If teams are making 3s against us, we need to get to a man.”

Jones, who is 6 feet tall and 230 pounds, said he likes playing down low and grabbing rebounds.

“You just need to block out and go after the ball,” he said.

Jones said he likes the home games because the Hornets practice in the gym all of the time.

“I think the home games are a lot easier because you know that gym,” he said. “You play in it a lot. I think for a smaller school, we have a real nice gym.”

The Hornets are in their first season playing in the Southern Roads Conference, and Jones said he has enjoyed the experience of facing those schools.

He feels the Hornets need to cut down their turnovers in order to pick up some wins down the stretch.

“We need to work on our press break,” he said. “A lot of teams press us, and we have turnovers. We need to get our turnovers down.”

Practice is important, too, he said.

“If you don’t go to practice, you won’t know the plays for the next game or anything like that,” he said. “The more shots you take, the more likely you’ll hit shots.”

He said he has enjoyed filling the role as a team captain.

“We have four seniors this year, and we just try to help out the younger guys,” Jones said.

Jones received the mental attitude award his junior year and said it is important to keep a positive outlook in any sport you play.

He said he has liked attending MHS.

“I like the class size. It’s not all bunched up,” he said. “You can talk to your teachers. You get more help.”

[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Jones file” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]

Name: Skylar Jones

High school: Medora

Parents: Joe and Cathy Jones

Siblings: Mike and Matt

Sport: Basketball, three years

Athletic awards: Assists award as a freshman and mental attitude award as a junior

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