Ansley Miranda’s solid return bodes well for Lady Warhawks going forward

The Veterans advanced to 19-2 overall and 5-0 in Region 1-5A following an impressive 62-22 victory over visiting Thomas County Central (5-10, 0-4 region) Friday night. “It was a solid team win,” said Lady Warhawks head coach Nicole Miranda after the game. “I am excited about having our team back to full strength.”

That complete team includes the coach’s daughter and the team’s starting point guard Ansley Miranda who had missed a few games late last year due to an injury. Back from knee surgery last week, Miranda played her first complete game Friday and by all accounts -mothers know best after all- looked good. “I’m very proud of her effort, energy and confidence shooting the ball,” said coach Miranda. 

The younger Miranda started the game and started it hot by going 3-3 from three-point range during the first quarter. The bulky knee brace she was wearing did little to derail her from sooting the ball as well, if not better, than she had before she went down with the injury.   

The last three-pointer of the first quarter came with just seconds remaining and put Veterans comfortably ahead 19-8. Ansley scored 14 points (4-8 from three overall, 1-3 from three during the third quarter) in her full-time return and played her part as the team’s facilitator and floor leader like she had never missed a game. “This was her first full game back and she ran the offense and distributed the ball well,” said her coach.

Defensively Ansley looked like her mobility was close to being back at full capacity while guarding the Yellow Jackets freshman point guard and leading scorer A’alerya Ponder and sophomore guard A’Maya Simon. 

Veterans will play at Warner Robins Saturday (5 p.m.) and will host Bleckley County in a non-region game Tuesday (6 p.m.). They will meet the Lady Yellow Jackets again Wednesday, Jan. 29 and will close the regular season with a region rematch against the Harris County Lady Tigers (3-3 region) on Friday, Jan. 31. 

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