tart of the Lady Jackets vs. Malakoff basketball game last week, Jayla Jackson scored on a beautifully-executed back door play with an assist from Macy Fischer. It was a message that Mineola would give the Lady Tigers of Malakoff all they could handle. 

That included the tall post from Malakoff, Hillary Dawson. Mineola pressured Dawson physically with a combination of Mahayla McMahon and Payton Applegate. The Lady Jacket zone defense also collapsed on Dawson when the Lady Tigers passed the ball inside.

Unfortunately for the home side, Dawson made excellent use of her significant height advantage by collecting and putting-back offensive rebounds. She tallied 32 of the Lady Tigers’ 49 points. Malakoff won a close game, 49-43. 

Mineola jetted to a 10-2 lead with hustle and good headwork. Mistakes in the offensive zone cost the Lady Jackets toward the end of the quarter, and Malakoff took a one point lead into the quarter break. 

The second quarter was dead even, as each side produced some quality basketball. Mineola’s play was highlighted by a gorgeous sequence whereby Jayla Jackson made a pass ahead to Kali Chrietzberg who found a trailing Applegate for a lay-in. Three-pointers by McMahon, Carmen Carrasco and Kyra Jackson took the game to half with the Lady Jackets down, 23-22.

Jayla Jackson opened the second half with seven straight points on a long jumper, a short finishing shot after a turnover and a baseline drive. Mineola opened a six-point advantage when Kyra Jackson rebounded a missed free throw and went the length of the court for a score. 

Malakoff went to their strength, Dawson. She sank six straight free throws to even the game after three quarters. 

Malakoff answered with a 3-pointer after McMahon opened the fourth quarter with an offensive rebound put-back. The visitors retained the lead throughout the final quarter. They did so by making the split-second decisions required in basketball.   

The Lady Jackets had put in yeoman’s work and will be a much better team for their efforts. The late game decision-making will certainly be a point of emphasis as the team moves into district play.

The weekend Brownboro Great East Texas Shootout saw the Lady jackets win three of five games.

Mineola opened with a 41-28 win over Palestine followed by a narrow loss to Burnet 37-33.

Next up Martins Mill came away with a 51-24 victory, but Mineola responded with a 27-21 win over Kaufman and a 66-29 victory over Lone Oak.

The Lady Jackets will be at Harmony and host Winona Tuesday for district games.