Sunday, March 21, 1999
Mason's Jones vows: Wait till next year
BY DAVE SCHUTTE
Enquirer contributor
COLUMBUS — The dark green patch with the number 30, taped on the uniform strap of the Mason girls basketball players uniforms, was a symbol of support.
“It was a collective idea,” senior forward Dallas Williams said. “We wanted to show support for Beth and let her know we love her.”
Injured during Friday's semifinal victory over Toledo Central Catholic, Jones, who wears No. 30, limped onto the floor with the Mason girls basketball team Saturday at St. John Arena with tears running down her face.
Jones, Mason's starting point guard, dislocated her left knee cap at the third-quarter buzzer Friday. She came down hard on the leg after being bumped by a TCC player while intercepting a pass.
“Of course I wanted to be out there,” a dejected Jones said following the game. “But I had complete confidence that we could win.”
Jones' parents, Barb and Dave, along with coach Gerry Lackey's wife, Wendy, accompanied Beth to Cincinnati early Saturday where she was examined by Dr. Angelo Colosimo from Cincinnati Sports Medicine.
“The doctor left it up to me about playing tonight,” Jones said. “I was willing to try anything but I couldn't have been effective playing at 50 percent.”
Susan Lippert filled in for Jones and contributed six assists. Neither of Mason's junior guards, Lippert or Racquel Ellis, scored and missed all five shots.
During the first meeting at Pickerington on Jan. 18, Jones scored 18 points, the only Comet in double figures.
Without Jones in the lineup, Jere' Issenmann was Mason's only outside shooting threat.
During the game, Jones was the Comets bench cheerleader.
“It was different without Beth out there,” Williams said. “But that's not an excuse because Pickerington played hard and our shots weren't falling.”
Jones, a junior, is already thinking ahead to the 1999-2000 season.
“We'll be back next year,” Jones said. “This will make me more determined and we're going to work on it.”
Mason will lose only two seniors to graduation: Williams and Erika Flanders.
TV TIMEOUT: The first time a media timeout was announced, most in attendance looked at each other. The second media timeout drew a chorus of boos from the crowd.
There were six media timeouts during the game which was televised by an Ohio cable station but not available in Cincinnati. The same company will televise next week's boys state championship finals.
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