New Hope High School senior basketball player Heratio Jackson felt like his game had been off lately.
As a team, the same could be said for the Trojans.
Both the individual and team struggles went away Friday night.
Jackson scored 25 points and a six-game losing streak went by the boards as New Hope beat Saltillo 58-54 in a Mississippi High School Activities Association Class 5A, Region 2 contest.
For his efforts, Jackson is being chosen today as The Dispatch’s Prep Player of the Week.
“We started out the season playing well,” Jackson said. “Then we had a slump to start the second half of the season. We have been trying to push through it. We just needed a win. We know we can still finish close to the top of the region standings. That is what we are trying to do right now.”
New Hope (12-9 overall) picked up its first region win. With two region games left, New Hope looks to finish strong and recapture some of the magic of a season-opening nine-game win streak.
“We know we have a team capable of having success,” Jackson said. “We have been working really hard in the gym trying to get better. All of those nights working together until 12 or 1 o’clock in the morning. That has helped us grow as a team. We have a lot of fun together and enjoy playing together. My job is to do whatever it takes to help the team be successful.”
New Hope basketball has made strides the last couple of seasons. A year ago, the Trojans won 21 games. While losing some of the scoring punch off that team, this year’s squad has been retooled and feels like it has a legitimate chance to play in Jackson.
“Our fans have been great,” Jackson said. “The student section is always packed. It feels good to be part of something this exciting. Our main goal is to make it to Jackson. We just want to have a chance to go there and play some games. That would be a great way for the seniors to go out.”
New Hope has been looking for more offensive firepower for its stretch run. Jackson hopes his season has turned for the better after making six 3-point baskets in Friday night’s win.
“I had been in a slump,” Jackson said. “However, I felt good from the first shot Friday night. Things really started falling after that. It was the type of game I had been needing.”
Fellow senior Carlos Brooks said this is his last chance to fulfill a lifelong dream of playing some games in Jackson at the Class 5A state tournament. The emergence of Jackson has an outside threat would help the team achieve those goals.
“I was excited to see (Jackson) get hot like that,” Brooks said. “He is going to be very important for the rest of our season. I could tell he was feeling good early. Since is the last year for all of us to play together, we really want to go out on top. We want to get to Jackson and play on that court. New Hope (boys) basketball hasn’t done that in a long time. It would be important if we could get there and achieve that goal.”
Jackson credits his teammates for continuing to build up his confidence. All of the Trojans have been needing that extra shot of confidence. A hard-earned region win over a bitter rival could turn the tide. New Hope will look to continue that momentum in region games against West Point and Oxford this week.
“We had somne big wins early in the sesaon,” Jackson said. “We just have to get back to playing that way on a consistent basis. It’s the time of year where you want to be playing your best.”
Follow Dispatch sports writer Scott Walters on Twitter @dispatchscott.
Scott was sports editor for The Dispatch.
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