Andrew Jackson girls win home tournament ahead of region slate

The Andrew Jackson girls’ basketball team beat visiting Dorman 54-46 to win the 2023 Comporium Christmas Classic on Dec. 30.

Forwards Ayona Alexander and Tamia Watkins combined for 49 points for the victorious Volunteers as they led the 5A Cavaliers for most of the game.

Dorman kept the ball game close all night, but the win was still a performance that made second-year head coach Steven Fair proud.

“I thought we showed some grit,” Fair said. “We had some people really step up down the stretch. Ayona Alexander, she had a magnificent game. She did some things in the post that she always does, but she did it extra special tonight. Dorman’s a heck of a ball team, but I thought the girls really pulled together and were able to close the game out.”

The performances also led to Alexander, a sophomore, and Watkins, a junior, earning all-tournament selections, with the former being named player of the tournament for the girls’ bracket.

Andrew Jackson (10-4) has had a stellar start to the season so far.

It is led by Watkins (24.0 points per game, 10.3 rebounds per game, 3.8 steals per game) and Alexander (20.8 points, 13.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists), with sophomore guard Ni’Yonna Asbelle (9.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists) also serving a major role.

Now, it’s time for the most important part of Andrew Jackson’s schedule: region play.

The Volunteers are on a four-year run of being undefeated region champs and have already started their march towards a fifth. They won their region opener 69-36 against Chesterfield on Dec. 15 and have won six of their past seven, including four in a row.

“I feel like the momentum is picking up,” Fair said. “We’re starting to do things better. The girls are going harder in practice. I think that’s the biggest difference. They made up in their mind that they want to win the day. It’s good to look down the road, but they made it on their own to want to win each and every day. Practice, the next practice, game, the next game, the next practice. They made up their mind that they want to do that.”

Andrew Jackson will next be at home against York Prep at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.