Pre-district basketball is a joy to watch. It is that time at which one can take note of team strengths certainly, but more interesting are those rough edges which all teams have early in the season. Watching a squad then mature and smooth those rough edges is one of the pleasures of following a team. 

The Mineola Lady Jackets dropped their Nov. 24 game on the road at Sulphur Springs, 45-34. For Mineola fans there were plenty of strengths to note and a handful of edges which will be rounded in time. As daunting as some of those rough edges may seem to a young team, there was not one which is not correctable.  

First, to the positives. The Lady Jackets executed the press well in three separate environments within one game. Initially, their trapping zone press worked against a team well-skilled in handling the ball. It created multiple turnovers in the first half of play.

After the halftime break, the Ladycats changed tactics and began to break the Mineola press with incremental cross-court passing. The Lady Jackets were able to alter their press in short order to disrupt the passing lanes.

In the final three minutes Mineola went to a hard full-court press while trailing by seven points. The press generated two Sulphur Springs turnovers in the final minutes. 

Offensively, the Lady Jackets needed to make adjustments at the half, and they worked those adjustments into their play in the second half. Specifically, they began to exploit the baseline on the drive and with wings cutting to the basket. 

The third strong suit demonstrated was a young backcourt unafraid to drive the ball and able to handle the ball against defensive pressure. 

The most obvious need for the Lady Jackets is to develop a better sense of offensive timing. In the first half, Mineola turnovers in the offensive zone equaled the number of steals Mineola secured with their press. 

Offensive timing being one of the finer skills of a team, developing it requires time, repetition and confidence in one another’s play. Given the individual skill levels there is plenty of time to improve this key team characteristic. 

Lastly, the Lady Jackets are searching for an identity. Are they a drive and dish team or a jumpshot-shooting team, a guard-led team or a wing-led team? 

Fortunately for Mineola solving the offensive timing issue will shape their identity. It is reassuring to see that they have the talent and youth with which to define the 2020-21 Lady Jackets.

One thing is clear, the young team will compete. They led Sulphur Springs 19-16 at the half and were within six points of the Ladycats with 1:34 to play. 

Led by new head coach Alan Wilson, the roster includes (1) junior Ava Johnson, (2) sophomore Mylee Fischer, (4) junior Madison Bloodworth, (5) junior Kapri Riley, (10) senior Brittany Pickle, (11) senior Jayden Gardner, (13) senior Catherine McLemore, (15) sophomore Jersey Cantrell, (22) freshman Macy Fischer, (23) senior Tahjae Black and (30) sophomore Jocelyn Whitehead.

 The next opportunity to see the Jackets at home will be Friday, Dec. 4 against Wills Point. Tip-off is 6:30 p.m.