The Thomas Jefferson Raiders girls basketball program is going through its toughest stretch of the season after a 43-32 loss to Auburn Mountainview at home on Jan. 14. The Raiders have now lost four out of their last five games.
Coming into the game, the Raiders had a record of 7-5, which is tied for the most wins in a season since 2019 (8). In 2022, the Raiders went 7-14.
Auburn Mountainview made it tough from the get-go as the Raiders managed to just score four points in the opening frame, trailing 9-4 after one quarter.
Heading into the break, Auburn Mountainview held a 19-10 lead and the Raiders just could not find any momentum. The game did not lack physicality though — both teams were battling inside and made it tough for either side to gain any momentum.
Both sides knew coming into the game that it was going to be a battle. On Dec. 6, these teams met for the first time this season and neither side scored more than 32 points.
“We just tried to stay disciplined and get through tonight. We had them at home and it was the same kind of game. We knew what we were coming into. They play hard and play tough. We just had to do what we do and get out of here with a win,” Auburn Mountainview Head Coach Alyse Lacey said.
Auburn Mountainview senior Kaylahna Cruz talked about the physicality that the Raiders play with: “TJ is always pretty physical. To be able to play that way the whole time and pull through, we thrived in it,” Cruz said.
The Raiders ended up with just eight points out of halftime, and by then, the Lions had taken full control of the game. Raider junior Jazmyne DuBose had six of her nine points on a pair of three-pointers late in the fourth quarter, and that was more than any other Raider player in the entire second half.
Thomas Jefferson heads to Kentlake to take on the Falcons and get back on the winning side of things on Jan. 17.