Jackson, Lady Rockets look to avenge title loss

ROCKINGHAM — On Thursday afternoon, the Rockingham Middle School Lady Rockets will host Sandy Grove Middle School in the second round of the Southeastern Middle School Athletic Conference (SEMSAC) tournament.

After narrowly missing out on the conference title last year when they fell on the road at Sandy Grove, the Lady Rockets are eager to seize their chance for redemption on their home court.

Under the guidance of head coach Wandesha Jackson and assisted by long-time Rockingham coach Teresa Mason, the Lady Rockets have been a force to be reckoned with this season, boasting an impressive 8-0 record in conference play without dropping a single set.

This eighth-grade-heavy squad is determined to make its final year in middle school unforgettable by claiming the championship title before transitioning to high school.

“I don’t know where the turnaround happened between last year and this year, but I’m loving it,” shared Jackson. “Last year, we told them what we wanted them to work on and they went out and did it.”

While many players on her team will be playing their final game(s) as Lady Rockets, Jackson feels like all of her players have contributed this year and expect the talent level to remain high going into next year.

“We scrimmage them against each other, our starters and the other girls, and the others can hold their weight,” Jackson explained. “We have a full group of girls that can go out play well. At any point, I can turn around and sub in any of the girls sitting behind me and they can go in and get the job done.”

Many of the players who experienced the heartbreak of last year’s championship loss to Sandy Grove will be looking to avenge that defeat. With the stakes high and emotions running deep, this rematch should be a fun day at the gym.

The SEMSAC tournament has seen the top three seeds emerge from Richmond County, with Rockingham securing the No. 1 seed. Hamlet, Ellerbe, and Sandy Grove follow closely behind, taking the second, third, and fourth seeds, respectively, after three teams tied for second and a tie-breaker draw was used to seed them.

Both Rockingham and Hamlet received first-round byes, while Ellerbe triumphed over Carver and Sandy Grove swept Spring Hill on Monday to advance.

As the Lady Rockets and Sandy Grove battle for a coveted spot in the title match, Ellerbe will be facing Hamlet in a parallel contest for the second championship opportunity.

When asked about the other match, Jackson wasn’t sure what to expect. “That first meeting between (Hamlet at Ellerbe) went five sets, it could go either way,” said Jackson.

“When we played Hamlet, Hamlet had us on our toes,” Jackson continued. “I don’t know if it’s the rivalry or what, but for some reason, we are just always out of sorts when we play Hamlet. Ellerbe is surprising. They are a small school, but have some great players and are tough to beat.”

Regardless of the outcome between Hamlet and Ellerbe, Jackson knows that if her Lady Rockets want to face either of their cross-county foes in the title match, they must first take care of business against Sandy Grove.

“This is a big one,” Jackson concluded. “Our girls are ready and excited for it.