Jackets persevere down the stretch

By Sam Major
photos@wood.cm
Posted 12/23/21

The Mineola Yellowjackets defeated the Sabine Cardinals 55-41 last Tuesday at home.

The contest was close in the opening minutes, with the score knotted at nine points each.

The Jackets closed …

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Jackets persevere down the stretch

Posted

The Mineola Yellowjackets defeated the Sabine Cardinals 55-41 last Tuesday at home.

The contest was close in the opening minutes, with the score knotted at nine points each.

The Jackets closed the first period up two courtesy of a three-pointer by T.J. Moreland in the waning seconds.

Mineola effectively applied defensive pressure, picking up the Cardinals full-court and forcing several turnovers, enabling them to open up a 27-19 halftime advantage, with Moreland scoring on the final play once more, this time with a drive to the bucket.

They allowed Sabine too many second chances and lay-ins and the game tightened up through the third, 34-31.

The amount of toweling off of sweat from the floor to maintain friction in the paint may yield a sense of the physicality of the matchup.

The Cardinals closed within one point 87 seconds into the fourth, 35-34.

The Jackets responded. Moreland scored on a drive, then Hunter Vandover got a steal and took it 70 feet for a lay-in and a five-point cushion.

A foul gave Sabine free throws to pull within three.

Braydon Alley secured a rebound and a put-back bucket to go up 41-36.

With just over four minutes remaining, it seemed a competitive closing stretch was in store. Then Moreland got hot, hitting two threes and scoring 10 points in the next couple minutes, pushing Mineola to a 51-38 edge.

Moreland led scoring at 21 points with three threes, Stephen Ogueri added 15 including seven free-throws, Dawson Pendergrass and Vandover had seven points each, Bobby Collins hit a three and Alley finished with two.