Lady Jackets runners up in GS tourney

Posted 12/9/21

It was a weekend of tournament play for area hardcourt teams. The Lady Jackets of Mineola progressed to a championship game last Saturday but fell short, bowing to the Van Lady Vandals at the Grand Saline Tourney. 

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Lady Jackets runners up in GS tourney

Posted

It was a weekend of tournament play for area hardcourt teams. The Lady Jackets of Mineola progressed to a championship game last Saturday but fell short, bowing to the Van Lady Vandals at the Grand Saline Tourney. 

The Lady Jackets had a strong tourney. Wins against Brook Hill and Henderson had put the young team in the championship bracket. 

A mature Lady Vandal squad used back court pressure and aggressive play to jet out to a big first quarter lead. The Lady Jackets had to overcome a variety of forced errors and technical miscues in that opening session. Four steal-and-scores shocked Mineola and shifted their focus from scoring to ball movement.

It was not until well into the second quarter that the Lady Jackets began to produce offense. Near the end of the half, with the score favoring Van 35-14, Jayla Jackson could be heard exhorting her teammates, “OK, let’s work!” 

The team began to fight together as a team in that second period. One passage of play really stood out. Van had stolen the ball and had a breakaway. The Lady Jackets hustled back – not just one. Van’s initial lay-in was cleanly challenged and missed. The Vandals secured the rebound, and a second shot at the basket was denied. Yet again, a third Lady Vandal was challenged and the lay-in went awry. It was an awesome passage of play featuring hustle and physicality. It bespeaks well for the upcoming season. 

Beginning the second half with a 21-point advantage, the Lady Vandals were not going to let Mineola back in the game. Play evened out in the second half, with Mineola realizing some tactical wins but never being able to make a significant run. Van claimed the tourney championship with a 51-24 victory.

Two aspects of the Lady Jackets game will improve markedly as the season progresses. Confidence in passing the ball and developing an aggressive willingness to take a shot are simply matters of perspective and experience.  

Most notably for Mineola, the efforts of Paris Spigner and Carmen Carassco stood out in that championship match. Both young Lady Jackets demonstrated a lot of heart and provided a surge of energy whenever they stepped on the court.