The Mineola Yellowjackets exacted sweet revenge against the visiting Chapel Hill Red Devils with a convincing 75-64 win last Friday. The win gives each team a single loss on the season in district play. 

The first quarter action was a throwback to their match-up earlier in the season, when Chapel Hill won a closely-played game, Jan. 12, by a score of 56-50. The rematch started much as the initial meeting ended, with Chapel Hill holding a 12-10 lead at the end of one quarter.

Mineola had success lobbing the ball inside to Dawson Pendergrass for baskets.

Playing in front of what was the largest crowd of the season, the Yellowjackets exploded in the second quarter, outscoring the visitors by 15 points in the second quarter and six points in the third. 

Leading 37-24 at the half, Mineola saw the lead narrowed to 47-40 but quickly reestablished the double-digit margin with four straight baskets, punctuated by three straight T.J. Moreland three-pointers, two to end the third quarter and one to open the fourth, that pushed the lead to 64-42.

Jonah Fischer, who was honored to start the night with acknowledgment of joining the 1,000-point club, started the run with a lay up, followed by his assist to Pendergrass, a steal and lay up by Moreland and another Fischer lay in.

The lead was as large as 71-47 before Chapel Hill closed the last three minutes of the game on a 17-4 run.

The Jackets combined their two greatest strengths – strong inside basketball and excellent guard play – to build as much as a 24-point lead late in the game.

Moreland led the Jackets with 27 points. Pendergrass added 22, Trevion Sneed 11 and Fischer 9. Andrew Stinchfield, Aidan Steward and Stephen Ogueri also recorded scores.

With Mineola scheduled to face Winona and Quitman to finish the season, that single loss to Chapel Hill should be their only mark in the loss column this year in district play. Chapel Hill must yet face Harmony. 

It is expected that Mineola and Chapel Hill will finish their district play with 11-1 records. Should that come to pass, a one-game playoff to determine district seeding is expected. That game, to be played at a neutral site, could be memorable.