Lady Jackets overwhelm visiting Grand Saline

By Sam Major
photos@wood.cm
Posted 12/17/20

The Mineola Lady Jackets gave no quarter to the visiting Lady Indians on Friday in Mineola, defeating Grand Saline 64–13.

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Lady Jackets overwhelm visiting Grand Saline

Posted

The Mineola Lady Jackets gave no quarter to the visiting Lady Indians on Friday in Mineola, defeating Grand Saline 64–13.

The game was scoreless for over 90 seconds. Then a solid Lady Jacket half-court press forced a turnover, and Tahjae Black scored on the fast break. Macy Fischer hit a free throw. Black got a steal, which she took coast-to-coast for a layup.

A lone Lady Indian point came from the free throw line at 4:28 before Mineola took over.

Black, the senior forward, scored ten in a row.

Mineola’s defense set the tone, smothering Grand Saline, not allowing a field goal for over seven and a half minutes. Their pressure, movement to the ball and quick hands resulted in a flurry of turnovers.

Grand Saline called three timeouts in the first six minutes trying to slow the avalanche, but the Lady Jackets always came out of the huddle ready to sting – once with a quick steal by Jayden Gardner, leading to a jumper by Black, two of her 16 on the quarter.

Three-pointers by Kapri Riley and Mylee Fischer contributed to a 25–3 lead.

The Lady Indians scored two early second-quarter points but were shut down until halftime by the continuous defensive swarm.

The Lady Jackets closed the half with 12 unanswered points, then continued to dominate with nine straight out of the break.

Grand Saline managed to score three points on free throws before making only their second and final field goal of the night. This perhaps annoyed Black, who simply decided to score and, in a drive reminiscent of alumnus Sabria Dean, dashed any glimmer of hope for anything resembling a rally by the visitors.

Black sat with 3:15 left having tallied 34 points.

Riley and Gardner added threes in the second half, bringing their point totals to eight each.

Mylee Fischer had multiple dribble-drives, which may prove effective against future zone defenses, and contributed seven points.

Macy Fischer scored five, and Jersey Cantrell put up two with a hard-fought bucket under the basket.

Though junior Ava Johnson didn’t convert her free throw attempts, her ability to guard and pressure the Grand Saline ball-handlers is invaluable, especially in Mineola’s full-court press.

Such effort, energy and execution on defense will serve the Lady Jackets well when they travel north Friday to face Quitman.