Van edges Lady Jackets in Wills Point tournament

Posted 12/8/22

The Mineola Lady Jackets traveled to Wills Point and participated in their tourney this past weekend. They fell to a strong Van side 51-36, in a game which was much closer than the final score indicated. 

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Van edges Lady Jackets in Wills Point tournament

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Christmas season tournament basketball is a basketball laboratory. It is a chance to literally throw a team on the court and gain experience against a whole range of schemes, face a handful of different offenses and gauge reactions to unique challenges. All of this is done without the normal scouting which is dedicated to district opponents. 

The experience of tourney play can reap great dividends for a team that puts it into proper context. Of course, there is nothing like winning; but early tournaments are really about building basketball skill as a team. 

The Mineola Lady Jackets traveled to Wills Point and participated in their tourney this past weekend. They fell to a strong Van side 51-36, in a game which was much closer than the final score indicated. 

The game was notable for a number of reasons: the Lady Jackets played short-handed and allowed valuable playing time to some youngsters brought up to varsity; the Lady Vandals play a unique trapping zone defense which was tough to crack; and once again, Mineola saw just how close they are to being a very good team. 

Joining the Lady Jackets were underclassmen Caroline Castleberry, Sophia Houge, Aubrey Piburn and Madysen Radcliff. Houge logged the most time against Van and more than proved her abilities to compete at the varsity level. Her amazing quickness and dogged perseverance challenged the Van ball-handlers on each trip up the court. 

The front-court trapping Van defense was a difficult challenge. Mineola was able to adapt, but turnovers caused by the pressure in the front court largely determined the outcome. 

The pressure made making that initial pass from the point to the wing or high post especially difficult. When the Lady Jackets were able to make that pass, they usually could turn to the basket and be productive. 

Van was quite skilled at bringing that trapping pressure, however, and forced Mineola to work intensely just to start their offense. 

The Lady Vandals used that pressure – and some excellent shooting – to build a 21-9 first quarter lead. 

The Lady Jackets regrouped and provided some great basketball to close the score to 30-21 at the half. Two passages of play were particularly telling. Midway through the quarter Paris Spigner scored with an excellent assist from Kyra Jackson. Moments later, Spigner fought to grab a defensive board and connected with Houge on a long pass ahead for a breakaway score. That score cut the margin to seven points. 

Van played a more structured third quarter, stretching the lead at one point to 17. Back court steals by Houge and Macy Fischer kept the Lady Jackets within striking distance. 

Mylee Fischer started the fourth quarter with a strong drive down the lane for a lay-in. What the Lady Jackets lacked on the day was the ability to string positive plays together. After Fischer’s great effort starting the final quarter, Mineola squandered the next two possessions. 

Resolute, tireless basketball by the whole squad made it an 8-point margin with 1:03 left to play. Van hit their last two shots in the game to take the 51-36 win.  

When kept in perspective, it is exactly this type of challenge which will help propel the Lady Jackets in district play.