Jones brings career to a close

More than 600 career victories in 33 seasons. Twelve Public League championships. A vocal spokeswoman for girls' basketball in Philadelphia and beyond.

Lurline Jones has made her mark at University City.

Last night, in the second round of the PIAA Class AAAA state playoffs, Jones' illustrious coaching career came to an end.

Pulling away in the last three minutes, Hempfield eliminated her young University City team, 47-40, at Coatesville High.

Afterward, Jones, who wore a bright orange suitcoat during the game, stayed in the locker room and chatted for a long time with 6-foot-3 senior center Eddiesha Johnson.

"I told her that she had to keep on working on her game, couldn't stop," the 64-year-old coach said.

Jones, who is retiring, compiled an impressive 647-202 record. More important than the wins, the coach said, is the fact that the team has produced doctors, lawyers, social workers and other professionals.

"That's what it's all about," she said.

Jones also pointed out that the University City program has turned out 189 basketball players with full or partial scholarships. Two of her former players, Pittsburgh's Marcedes Walker and North Carolina State's Chanita Jordan, are playing in this year's NCAA tournament.

"I had a very fulfilling career," said Jones, who is the athletic director at University City and has been a Philadelphia School District employee for 42 years. "I'm looking forward to watching from the stands and yelling at the referees."

Jones hopes that University City assistant Mark Edwards will take over the program.

"Because of his qualifications, he will probably get the job," she said.

Markel Walker, an up-and-coming sophomore forward, paced the Jaguars (19-10) with 22 points and 10 rebounds. She also made three steals, blocked two shots, and handed out an assist in 32 minutes.

Johnson contributed seven points, nine rebounds and a steal in 25 minutes. Stacia Bryant, a 5-10 forward, collected nine rebounds.

University City, which placed fourth in the District 12 playoffs, had a 37-36 lead with a little more than three minutes to play. However, Hempfield used an 8-0 burst to put the game away. The Black Knights shot 11 for 14 from the line in the final eight minutes.

The Jaguars shot 15 for 33 from the field but committed 26 turnovers. Hempfield, the No. 6 seed from District 3, turned the ball over just 11 times.

Powered by the 6-0 Walker, who had as many as four defenders draped on her during one second-half possession, University City was ahead, 15-11, late in the second quarter. With a three-pointer by Steph Graver, the Black Knights (23-6) evened things at the break.

In the third quarter, Johnson sat out four minutes after being whistled for her third foul. Another negative for the Jaguars was a 10-for-22 performance at the line.

Hempfield 9 6 13 19 - 47

University City6 9 12 13 - 40

H: Analicia Evans 10, Ellie Steward 8, Hannah Miller 7, Steph Graver 8, Chelsea Cypress 6, Chelsea Bowman 8.

UC: Markel Walker 22, Eddiesha Johnson 7, Khadijah Pennington 3, Desiree Lawrence 2, Stacia Bryant 2, Quinetta Washington 4.