Thomas Jefferson freshman Hailey Still has done it again.

She broke the school record for goals in a game during her debut for the Raiders soccer program in the fall. Still stepped on the Jefferson hardwood for the first time on Tuesday and she led the team in scoring and steals in the Raiders 52-32 loss to non-league Emerald Ridge at Thomas Jefferson High School.

Still produced all 11 points, three steals and three rebounds in the first half. And she formally introduced herself to Raider basketball fans when she sank a 3-point buzzer beater to end the first half, trimming the Raiders’ deficit to nine.

Still opened the scoring for the Raiders two minutes into the first quarter, sinking a three from the left elbow. But after the game, She wanted nothing to do with questions about her debut.

“I can’t even talk right now,” she said hurrying to the locker room. “It was just a bad night for us.”

Still’s debut was the only bright spot for the Raiders in their season opener. Jefferson shot 9-of-48 (19 percent) from the field, and it surrendered 25 turnovers.

The opening minutes were tough for Jefferson. It gave up four turnovers in the first minute of the game, and it lost sophomore forward Kaleesa Peters to a leg injury in the second minute.

The combination of Still scoring and point guard Aliyah Ramil’s rebounding, got the Raiders back on track, as they trailed Emerald Ridge 9-6 going into the second quarter.

Hope Jones and McKayla Mattes opened the second quarter with a 7-0 run for the Jaguars, extending its lead to 21-12 before Still’s three at the buzzer made it a nine-point game heading into the second half.

Jefferson coach Frank Parker said inserting Still into the starting lineup was a decision he was more than excited to make.

“I made the decision (Monday) to start her, and she just played really good,” Parker said. “You come out here and teach these girls and as a coach you look for that heart and passion. Hailey is one of those girls that you see that from all game long.”

Still wasn’t the only one with something to prove in the Raiders’ season opener against the Jaguars.

The game was the first time Parker went head-to-head with Emerald Ridge coach Roland Sydney. Sydney was an assistant under Parker when the two coached at Graham-Kapowsin.

One element Sydney took to the Jaguars from Parker’s tutelage was the full-court press defense that smothered Jefferson in the win.

The press helped Emerald Ridge balloon its lead to 37-23 heading into the fourth quarter. More importantly, the scheme held Still scoreless in the second half.

“We were able to break it once,” Parker said. “But the girls have to learn that after you break it that first time, you have to do it over and over. It’s going to work every single time.”

While Still fell victim to the press, it opened an opportunity for junior forward Julia Walker.

The high press from the Jaguars left Walker and the paint wide open. She led the Raiders in the second half with six points and seven rebounds.

Parker said Walker’s value in the key is extremely high for Jefferson going forward.

“When she gets in a groove like she did tonight, she’s really going to clean up the boards,” Parker said. “But we have plays designed specifically for the bigs, we ran those for her but our weak side just wasn’t coming over.”

Parker attributed the opening night loss to nerves.

The Raiders next game on Dec. 2 against Auburn Mountainview is its first league game. Parker hinted Jefferson will make adjustments on the defensive end, likely going from their usual man defense to a zone.

Parker said the Raiders would start preparation immediately for their matchup with the Lions. He said the biggest adjustment has to be improving field goal percentage.

The one thing Parker won’t change is Still’s role as Jefferson’s ball handler.

“Oh, no doubt she’ll be in there,” Parker said. “But we have got to knock down shots. We shot a dismal percentage. We have to stress the concept of attacking the hoop if we want to beat Auburn Mountainview.”

The Thomas Jefferson Raiders struggled to get through the Emerald Ridge full-court press defense defense in their 52-32 loss to the Jaguars. JEROD YOUNG, the Mirror