Central's Sarah Jones accepts 'Nova basketball scholarship

Sarah Jones, who never lost a Public League girls' basketball game in four seasons as a starting guard for Central, signed a full scholarship offer yesterday to play for Villanova.

Central coach Frank Greco, who has directed the Lancers to more than 90 straight league wins, including playoffs, called Jones' signing not only a "wonderful opportunity for her to play in the Big East, but a great opportunity for all the girls playing in the Public League."

"Sarah said she was just thrilled to death to have the opportunity to play for Villanova," Greco said.

Jones, an Inquirer all-Southeastern Pennsylvania second-team selection, led the Lancers to their sixth straight Public League championship and a 19-7 record last season. She averaged just over 14 points a game but improved to better than 20 points a game in the District 12 and PIAA playoffs.

"It's a great opportunity to play for a very prestigious school," said Jones. an honor student at Central who plans to major in accounting or sports management. "I visited there a couple of weeks ago, and I was impressed. Villanova is very family-oriented. You never want to see your high school career end, but I'm ready to move on to the next level."

In addition to basketball, Jones plays right field for the Lancers softball team. That team has lost only one game in her four years as a starter.

"That was in my freshman year, when we lost in the championship game to Northeast, our big rivals," Jones said.