From the backyard to the big show: the Jones twins score big

Mansfield natives Logan and Lauren Jones reached a goal of theirs Saturday when their second-seeded team, the College of the Ozarks Lady Cats, won the NCCAA Division 1 National Championship at Saturday’s match-up against the No. 1 seed Mission University’s Lady Patriots at home in Keeter Gymnasium, 75-62.
For the Joneses, both sophomore guards for the Lady Cats, this was a journey that began a dozen or so years ago when their father installed a concrete slab and a basketball goal in their backyard so his fraternal, or non-identical, twins could hone their basketball skills.
They were in the first or second grade when the basketball bug bit hard and never let go. Consequently, that backyard goal got a good workout.
“We were shooting on it all the time. We were in the gym every night, working together. We had many battles, one on one, but we were working hard to make each other better,” Lauren Jones said.
Soon, their interest in the sport grew bigger than their backyard court.
“We started a hometown little travel team, and we just fell in love with it. We continued doing AAU ball and working in the gym,” Logan Jones said.
Consequently, they were standouts at Mansfield High School, where both earned All-Conference, All-District and All-State honors.
This was due, in part, to the non-identical twins’ identical goals.
“We worked together really well, so we wanted to do the best for our hometown and be great for each other,” Logan said.
Although they wear the same uniform, they challenge each other during practice.
“I think our biggest competitors are each other, but we like to make each other better. So, we go 110 percent the entire time, and sometimes we get a little mad, but at the end of the day, we know that we’re making each other better. We don’t stay too mad for too long,” Logan Jones said.
In the championship, the Jones twins played against another Wright County native, Mission University standout Josie Sullivan, a former Norwood Lady Pirate, who scored 15 points and six rebounds for MU.
Meanwhile, Logan scored eight points and added three rebounds, three steals and one assist. Lauren didn’t see any time on the court in the contest.
“We’re pretty glad we came out with the win,” Logan Jones said.
Winning the NCCAA Championship was the first time for these sisters while the 2023 team also won the championship.
Since the team fell in the first round of the NAIA Championship earlier this month, this championship was a huge boost.
“It feels really good. It’s really exciting to come together as a team and be able to win. Event hough we didn’t get the NAIA championship, to get the NCCAA Championship is really nice,” Logan said.
Since they are college students rather than full-time pro athletes, they have more than just sports on their minds.
“There’s times when you’re pretty tired because at C of O we work 15 hours a week, we have practice, we have classes, but just like with our teammates, and playing with my sister and our coach, we make it the best we can, and we have a blast. We compete and we work hard, but at the end of the day, it’s always just good to play with your teammates and everything,” Logan Jones said.
Her sister had the same viewpoint.
“It is hard work. We’re doing classes all the time, we’re going to work, and we’re coming right to practice, but it’s still just fun,” Lauren Jones said.
This is not surprising since C of O is also known as Hard Work U. Despite this moniker, the waiting list to attend C of O is a long one.
Another challenge is the long hours and multiple miles the ladies log in a charter boss to locations like Orange City, Iowa; McPherson, Kan.; and Plainview, Texas.
Consequently, studying for classes and occasional motion sickness are two of their common travel companions.
Missing classes is another challenge for the C of O Lady Cats’ student-athletes.
“Our teachers are very understanding, and they work with us because they know we work hard for the school,” Lauren Jones said.
Although they are living in the college sports limelight, the sisters look back to what their hometown gave them growing up.
“The community of Mansfield is what got us here: their support, their love, the team, the coaches, all of it,” Logan Jones said.
Their former Mansfield Lions coach, Gary Greene, who now coaches at Fair Grove, is fondly remembered by the Joneses.
They thanked Coach Greene for pushing them to the next level from the time when they were just freshmen and for believing in what they could accomplish in their future.
“He was a great coach. He pushed us to be the best we could ever be, and he led us to many great wins,” Lauren said.
And that tradition has continued with Lady Cats head coach Becky Mullis leading them to a championship.
She said she does not go into a game thinking the team can lose. She believes they will win and prepares for that.
“I knew what we had to do to win. I just had confidence that we were going to execute,” Mullis said.
And the Jones twins executed on the court for the Lady Cats this season and reached a goal with more than a basketball.
“Getting to play with my twin sister has always been like a dream of mine, so for it to come true is a really big deal. I love it,” Logan Jones said.
And her sister, not surprisingly, feels the same way.
“We pushed each other to get to this point, and we have always wanted to play college ball together, and we’ve made our goal,” Lauren Jones said.
They are not tired of the student-athlete’s life and are very ready for the next season.
“We want more,” Logan said.