Matt Vines

EAST POINT – On a night when Riverdale guard Mary Claire Jones was honored for surpassing the 1,500-point career mark, she turned in a 15-assist performance in which she took just five shots.

Riverdale cruised past Union Christian Academy on Jan. 17 by a score of 74-26, and girls coach Trey Pittman said it’s just another example of the type of player Jones is.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had one player get 15 assists in a game,” Pittman said. “She usually leads us in scoring as our point guard, but she never asks how many points she scores.

“She usually asks about other stats, like how many points we allowed in a specific quarter or if we’re outrebounding the other team.”

The sight of the 5-foot-4 Jones may not strike fear into opponents’ hearts, but for a guard who’s been playing varsity since the seventh grade, she’s made a name for herself.

Jones was selected for the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools Futures’ Game as a sophomore, one of 24 players selected from all classifications combined.

Pittman said she’s deserving of a spot again this year after leading Riverdale to a 24-5 record and an 18-game winning streak heading into tonight’s rivalry game against Briarfield Academy.

Jones’ ability to shoot and drive means defenses can’t simply bracket her.

Teammates’ ability to shoot and score frees up Jones’ own offensive opportunities, creating a flowing halfcourt offense when Riverdale isn’t scoring off its defense.

“Teams can’t play junk defenses against us because Mary Claire puts others in position to score, and we have five players that have the ability to score,” Pittman said. “And when you have five players that can score, defenses can’t just try to take Mary Claire away.

“Mary Claire has made six 3-pointers in a single quarter twice this season. When she’s hot, she’s hot. And when she’s not, she knows to take it to the hole.”

Jones is part of a three-guard system that also features senior Jadyn King and freshman Kaleigh Pickett. Pickett came into the rotation after junior Hannah Huddleston shifted into a post position, and Pickett scored 22 points in the first half of a 61-22 win against Central on Monday.

Creating depth will be key if Riverdale hopes to claim regional and state titles and compete in the overall MAIS state tournament, which invites the best from all classes.

As a floor general, Pittman said Jones is like having an assistant coach on the floor.

“Mary Claire puts everything she has into all phases of the game, which includes scouting opponents and watching other teams,” said Pittman, who added she comes from a Jones family in which her father, brothers, and cousins were accomplished Riverdale athletes, including boys head coach Ty Jones. “She looks at the game like a coach, and she makes me want to work harder to make sure we’ve prepared as best we can.”

College coaches regularly inquire about Jones, but Pittman said the intensity that she’s poured into the game for so long could be the factor that leads her to other college activities.

“Right now she wants to try other things and isn’t interested in playing college basketball, but she has the ability if she changes her mind,” said Pittman, who added that Jones also leads the team in blocks. “She’s a leader in practice, and she has no problem getting on the team if energy or morale is low.

“But she’s also the first one to take criticism and put it on herself if she’s not doing something she needs to do.”

With more than a full season to go, Jones is on pace to top 2,000 points and enter rare air at Riverdale.

But a state championship would go much further in cementing Jones’ own legacy and adding to her family’s lore at Riverdale.

Next week, Riverdale wraps up the regular season with road trips to Union Christian on Tuesday and Claiborne Academy on Friday before heading to the Class 2A South Regionals the following week.