The Mineola Yellowjackets opened their 2020-21 district title defense with a convincing 66-53 win over the visiting Winnsboro Red Raiders Monday, Dec. 21. 

Mineola jetted out to a 10-0 start with aggressive play at both ends of the court. Most noteworthy in the first half action was the number of assists dished out by the Yellowjackets. Four assists stand-out as indicative of the team effort demonstrated by the Jackets. 

It was Dawson Pendergrass who found Aiden Steward with a beautiful assist to open the scoring. Midway through the first quarter Jonah Fischer got the ball to Pendergrass who put the Jackets up 21-4. Moments later Trevion Sneed dished the ball to Jaxon Holland for two points, and at the end of the quarter Andrew Stinchfield found Fischer who nailed a jumper. 

This team-oriented play spelled success for the home side. Combined with a high tempo of action and a purposeful approach to each sequence, the Jackets played their best basketball of the year to date. 

Winnsboro has a talented team. They regrouped and outscored Mineola in the second quarter to make the score 34-23 at the half. 

The Yellowjackets repeated their fast start in the second half. Pendergrass and Sneed combined for 12 points in the third quarter as they dominated the inside game. The two joined Fischer as the three Jackets who scored in double figures.  

By the final buzzer, nine Yellowjackets had etched the scorecard. A 20-point third quarter established a decisive lead and gave the home side their opening district win.

As with all basketball games, there will be much to learn from the Winnsboro match-up. Two likely learning points will be how and when the team may want to slow the tempo to decrease the number of scoring opportunities to the opponent. Another will likely be finding the right mix of players coming off the bench to give the Jackets the best combinations possible. 

Mineola boys and girls teams will tip off in Mt. Vernon on Saturday, Jan. 2 in the next district action.