NORTH JACKSON — The Mathews girls basketball team just couldn’t hold onto the ball on Monday.

Turnovers led to baskets, and the Mustangs fell to Jackson-Milton 51-34 in a non-conference meeting in North Jackson.

The Mustangs jumped out to a 4-0 lead, but three straight buckets got the Blue Jays their footing.

The teams traded the lead several times, but an 8-0 run by Jackson-Milton (11-5) gave the home squad a 23-14 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

The Blue Jays held the Mustangs (2-12) off the board for the first four minutes of the second quarter, all the while, increasing their lead to 30-14.

The press kept the Mustangs from working the ball up the court and fueled the Jays’ push.

“All year that’s been an issue for us, ballhanding,” Mathews head coach Cody Mead said. “We got a young group of girls. They lost their senior point guard, so ballhandling in general has been a focus for us, a real struggle for us.

“The second quarter in general seems to be a slower quarter for us. We’re still trying to figure it out, find our identity against the pressure.”

J-M’s defense forced turnovers, leading to extra possessions and a 38-19 lead at halftime.

Neither team got shots to fall in the second half, but Jackson-Milton had a large enough lead to not feel threatened.

Jackson-Milton won three of its last five games. Meanwhile, the Mustangs are on a three-game losing streak.

“It’s just a process. Getting them to trust each other, trust themselves. Finding the small wins along the way,” Mead said.

Jackson-Milton’s coach was not available for comment after the game.