Ozona Girls Lock Down Coleman to Begin Playoff Run

SAN ANGELO, TX — The Ozona Lady Lions look like they’re playing their best basketball of the season right now.

Ozona ran past Coleman 50-19 in its playoff opener Monday for its 14th win in the last 15 games.

The Lady Lions also defeated Hermleigh, the No. 6-ranked team in Class 1A, 40-39 last week in a playoff tune-up.

Head coach Jerry McSherry, who arrived in Ozona this school year with over 600 career wins, has helped get the young Lady Lions quickly up to speed. Their record now stands at 27-7.

The roster has only two seniors and two juniors, along with six sophomores and a freshman.

“It’s been awesome,” McSherry said of his first season in Ozona. “The kids have bought into the things I’m trying to get them to do. There really hasn’t been a challenge, other than they’re young players. But the mistakes we make are hustle mistakes. We might make a bad pass here or there, but they’re always hustling. They’re always going 100 miles per hour. And as long as we’re doing that, I can live with those mistakes.”

Ozona’s standout senior, Kelyn Gass, had a game-high 20 points and shined on offense and defense.

Sophomore Aaliyah Renteria had 11 points, while sophomore Avery Davidson had 9.

The Lady Lions weren’t spectacular on offense, but they didn’t have to be with the way their defense was playing.

Ozona led 16-5 by the end of the first quarter and 26-7 at halftime. The Lady Lions took a 39-15 lead into the fourth quarter.

“Defensively, I’ve been very pleased with our performance,” McSherry said. “I know as long as we play good defense, we have a chance.”

Ozona moves on to play Plains in the area round Thursday at Howard College in Big Spring. McSherry said the game will likely be at 6:15 p.m. or 6:30 p.m.

Coleman’s season ended with a record of 8-18.