Jackets area champs

Posted 3/2/23

Heart-stopping action. That exactly defines Mineola’s 47-42 area championship win over the Tatum Eagles Friday in Whitehouse. 

Every possession, every shot, every rebound, every loose ball. The gravity of each sequence of action was undeniable. 

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Jackets area champs

Posted

Heart-stopping action. That exactly defines Mineola’s 47-42 area championship win over the Tatum Eagles Friday in Whitehouse. 

Every possession, every shot, every rebound, every loose ball. The gravity of each sequence of action was undeniable. 

Adding to the sense of drama provided by two quality teams was the fact that for at least the first half of action, the referees swallowed their whistles. So, a battle of basketball talent became a physical battle of basketball talent.

Luckily for the Yellowjackets, they were able to dominate the first quarter of play, outscoring the Eagles by 12 points and carrying a 15-3 edge at the quarter break.

From the outset it looked as if Mineola had already worked up a lather while the Eagles had just climbed off their bus. T.J. Moreland hit his first shot from the field – a 3-pointer – and Braydon Alley knocked away a pass in the defensive zone, corralled it and went the length of the court for a score. Dawson Pendergrass then scored on the inside and Mineola took a 7-1 lead.

Following back-to-back traveling calls, Tatum whistled a time-out. It was to no avail. Mineola continued to dominate the rebounding, the guard play and the transition game. 

Moreland closed out the opening quarter on a 9-point tear.

All in all, it was the best single quarter of basketball the Yellowjackets have played all year.

It is hard to describe the physicality of the play. No rebound went without contact; driving to the basket came with a series of body blows. Through it all, however, the Yellowjackets retained their composure. They simply adjusted their game. 

After going almost scoreless in the opening quarter, Tatum began to find some buckets in the second quarter. Also of note, Mineola made a handful of errant turnovers, mostly in the offensive zone. 

Yet, the Jackets built as much as an 18-point lead – after 3-pointers by Zay Lipscomb and Moreland. A Moreland assist to Keke Martin on a break gave the Jackets a 27-11 lead at the half. 

Tatum made two critical adjustments at the half: defensively they began to pressure the Mineola ball-handers in the forecourt, while on offense, the Eagles stopped trying to get the ball inside and rather worked to get the ball to their shooters facing the hoop for jump shots.

Both changes worked. The pressure derailed the movement in Mineola’s offense, and the Eagle offense woke up with a torrent of short jumpers. 

Tatum put up 16 points in the third quarter, at one point closing the lead to five points. A technical foul against Tatum helped to slow the advance.  At the quarter break the score stood 35-27.

The Eagles scored twice to open the final quarter and made it a 2-point margin. It appeared that the team from Tatum had all the momentum and were eyeing the area title. 

That is exactly where Dawson Pendergrass took over. Pendergrass took his man to task by scoring on a long drive. He then found Alley inside with an excellent assist.

Tatum came right back and closed the lead to three points. Pendergrass went directly to the basket, scoring on a break, and hitting two free throws. With just under a minute to play, he dunked the ball after a drive from near midcourt.   

Once Mineola had gone to a four-corners offense, they simply got the ball to Pendergrass above the key and let him go to work.  

Moreland secured the game with two free throws down the stretch, and the Jackets had an area title.

Moreland led Mineola with 21 points. Pendergrass added 10, Braydon Alley – a consistent force all night – contributed 8, Lipscomb 6 and Martin 2.

Mineola faced Atlanta in the regional quarter finals Tuesday night.