Mineola boys earn hoops victory over Quitman

By Larry Tucker
editor@wood.cm
Posted 2/16/23

County rivals Mineola and Quitman battled in front of packed Delbert Ballard Memorial Gym Friday as the Jacket defense shut down Quitman scoring in a 56-42 district win spoiling senior night for several Bulldogs.

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Mineola boys earn hoops victory over Quitman

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County rivals Mineola and Quitman battled in front of packed Delbert Ballard Memorial Gym Friday as the Jacket defense shut down Quitman scoring in a 56-42 district win spoiling senior night for several Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs got the early 2-0 lead when Ethan Presley hit a basket on a great pass from Levi Thompson.

Mineola came right back scoring a triple by Zay Lipscomb making it 3-2. Hunter Jacobs hit a triple at 4:40 left in the opening quarter to make it 5-3 but Mineola’s Braydon Alley tied things up at 5-5 with 3:08 left in the period.

Isaiah Gardner put the Jackets up 7-5 and was matched by Bulldog Brady Floyd making it 7-7. Mineola scored the final five points in the quarter with Dawson Pendergrass scoring a lay-up with six seconds left to give Mineola a 12-7 first quarter edge.

The Yellowjacket defense clamped down on the Bulldogs in the second quarter, racing to a 23-11 lead with just under three minutes left in the half. Mineola’s Alley did a great job on the boards and also added four points in the quarter. With Mineola leading 25-14, Quitman’s Thompson hit a free throw as the first half ended making it 25-16.

The second half was evenly fought, but the Bulldogs could not make up much ground. Alley hit a left-handed lay-in to put the Jackets up 29-18. After Bulldog Floyd made a free throw making it 29-19, Lipscomb hit a triple with four minutes left in the quarter making it 32-19, and the Jackets never looked back. 

Mineola got a pair of triples from Keke Martin and Ainsley Steward to give the Jackets a 20-point cushion at 45-25 until Quitman’s Floyd hit a triple as the quarter ended and making it 45-28 going into the final quarter.

A bucket by Thompson cut the lead to 45-30 but Lipscomb answered with another triple making it 48-30.  Mineola slowed down the game in the final quarter. Quitman’s Brandon Hayes got the Bulldog’s final points on a trey cutting Mineola’s advantage to 53-42 but Alley hit a bucket and Gardner added a free throw and the Jackets had the 56-42 win. 

Mineola had four players in double figures in a solid team effort. Alley led with 16 points followed by T.J. Moreland and Pendergrass with 11 each and Lipscomb 10. For Quitman, Floyd had 11 and Thompson nine. 

Mineola will go into next week’s playoffs as the second place team to  district champ Mt. Pleasant Chapel Hill. Winnsboro is the third place team and the Bulldogs fourth place.