The Mineola Lady Jackets exacted revenge for a late December loss at Alba-Golden with a hard-fought 48-38 win Friday night at home.

The game featured a bit of everything, including an exceptionally well-played opening quarter. Alba-Golden scored off the opening tip as junior Sammy Rambsel intercepted the Mineola tip and scored on a breakaway. Two short jumpers by senior Macie Pendergrass and an offensive put-back by Kalli Wright rounded out the Lady Panthers’ scoring.

Mineola recorded points in the opening quarter from Jessiah Riley, Cyndi Butler, Chloe Cormier, and Sabria Dean. Dean also contributed her first of three highlight reel assists, this one to Tahjae Black for a score. The junior stand-out also assisted Tiara Stephens in the second quarter and Riley in the final quarter to help seal the win.

Alba-Golden closed the score to 12-10 in the opening moments of the second quarter when they scored on a nicely executed inbound play. The Lady Jackets held their guests to only five points in the quarter and built a 20-13 halftime advantage.

Mineola should have opened a large lead before halftime as they out-rebounded Alba-Golden 11-2 in the second period. The Lady Jackets unfortunately committed seven turnovers in the same span, which negated the huge rebounding advantage.

Behind two nice jumpers from Pendergrass and inbound scoring play, the Lady Panthers drew to within three early in the third quarter. It was as close as the Lady Panther team would get on the night. Efficient free throw shooting and a beautiful assist from Meghan Brewington to Black put the Lady Jackets up by as much as 11 points late in the third.

The Lady Panthers fought hard in the fourth. Behind two three-pointers by Grace Bizzell and a three-point play by Ginny Carson, the Lady Panthers closed the score to 40-36 with 3:00 to play. The assist by Dean to Riley and Mineola’s shooting from the line salted away the win.