Twice last week the Hawthorne girls’ basketball team had to overcome double-digit deficits to win two games at the FHSAA Girls Basketball state championships at the R.P. Funding Center in Lakeland.

Despite being doubled and sometimes triple teamed, Jhalea Jackson averaged a double-double in the final two games of the season as the Lady Hornets (22-3) won their second straight Class 1A state title.

She has been recognized as the Pavlik Orthodontics Athlete of the Week for the week of Feb. 26.

Jackson scored 12 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and recorded a game-high four blocks in a 44-41 win on Friday against top-ranked Wildwood in the Class 1A state semifinals.

Following a Wildwood offensive miss late in the game, Jackson got the rebound and Zakena Ealy completed the break with a left-wing 3-pointer to tie the game against the Wildcats at 41-41 with 3:04 to play.

Jackson was unstoppable on the boards.

Following another defensive rebound by Jackson (eight total), the junior scored what would be the game-winning layup for a 43-41 Hawthorne lead with 2:18 to play.

“Jhalea did a tremendous job,” said Hawthorne coach Cornelius Ingram. “I don’t even know how many blocks were recorded but some of those rebounds and blocks that she had in key moments right there at the end, to push the ball for us in transition, to find someone in the corner, I have a great all-around team.”

In the Class 1A title game on Saturday against No. 3 seed Graceville, Jackson made big plays in the fourth quarter to help lead her team to victory.

Down two, Jackson’s bucket tied the game at 27-27 with 5:57 to play, and she tied the game at 29-29 with five minutes left in the game.

She made 1-of-2 free throws to bring Hawthorne within one at 31-30 with 4:15 to play, and she had a bookend 1-of-2 free throws as part of a 7-0 run for a 36-31 lead with 2:03 to play.

Graceville got close but never took the lead.

Jackson finished the game with 13 points and led all players with 13 rebounds as the Lady Hornets rallied for a 43-40 win against the Tigers (24-3).

“I believe Jhalea is one of the best bigs in the entire state,” Ingram said. “We kind of call her the point forward for us where she can push the ball up the floor. If she catches that ball in the middle, she will make the correct basketball play.”

Hawthorne joined a special group and became the first Alachua County girls basketball team to repeat as state champions.

Jackson is the 28^th athlete to be selected for the weekly award during the 2023-24 school year.

Last week’s winner was Evan Sterck of The Rock boys’ basketball national team.

The junior helped lead the Lions (25-8) to their fifth Sunshine Independent Athletic Association (SIAA) state title in program history by averaging 15.5 points, seven assists, three rebounds and 1.5 steals per game in wins against Victory Rock Prep (Sarasota) in the semifinals and DME Academy (Daytona Beach) in the championship game.

Recent winners include Ori Sela of the Gainesville girls weightlifting team and Samantha Keith of the Countryside Christian girls’ basketball team.

For a complete list of winners, click here.

Coaches can email their nominations each week, along with stats, no later than Sunday night to mike.ridaught@mainstreetdailynews.com.