Yellowjackets overpower Quitman for district win

By Larry Tucker
editor@wood.cm
Posted 1/26/23

A balanced scoring attack and persistent defense led the Mineola Yellowjackets to a decisive 77-51 win over Quitman in District 13-3A basketball action last Tuesday.

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Yellowjackets overpower Quitman for district win

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A balanced scoring attack and persistent defense led the Mineola Yellowjackets to a decisive 77-51 win over Quitman in District 13-3A basketball action last Tuesday.

Led by Dawson Pendergrass banging in a pair of strong dunks late in the second quarter, the Yellowjackets never looked back on their way to the win. It was not just Pendergrass, but the ‘Jacket explosive offense including leading scorer sophomore Xzavien Lipscomb who hit for 20 points including 4-7 triples and 4-4 from the free throw line.

Junior Braydon Alley had an excellent game for the Jackets scoring 17 points, bringing down eight rebounds and adding six steals to lead the strong defensive effort by the team. Mineola’s Keke Martin added 10 points and four assists.

Quitman opened the scoring on a bucket by Levi Thompson. It was Quitman’s only lead of the game. Mineola was leading 14-10 when Ainsley Steward scored a pair of baskets and Alley had a steal and score to up their lead to 20-10. 

Quitman’s Brady Floyd had a steal and drove the floor for a score at the buzzer making it 20-12 after one quarter. Floyd had another solid performance leading Quitman in scoring with 15 points including 5-6 from the charity stripe.

Mineola continued the offensive efforts outscoring the Bulldogs 15-11 in the second quarter. A Floyd basket and free throw cut Mineola’s lead to 27-18. That is when Pendergrass hit his back-to-back dunks making it 31-18. The Bulldogs fought back with Thompson getting three, hitting a bucket and making the free throw, making it 31-22. Floyd’s free throw brought it to 31-23, but Pendergrass drove the lane two more times for scores leaving it 35-23 at the half.

Mineola got hot in the third quarter, hitting for 25 points to 15 for Quitman giving the Jackets a decisive 60-38 lead after Lipscomb hit a long triple at the buzzer to end the third quarter. 

The Jackets came out in the fourth quarter hitting three triples, one by Lipscomb and a pair from Alley which gave Mineola a 71-40 advantage. Mineola’s Martin scored making it 73-42. Quitman came back with a triple and bucket from Payton Sapp with Mineola still leading 73-47.

Quitman’s Noah Emmons and Ethan Presley each hit buckets, but it was too little too late as a Mineola bucket by sophomore Isaiah Gardner made the final score of the night 77-51. 

With the win, the Jackets stayed just one game back of district leader Mt. Pleasant Chapel Hill. Quitman dropped to 3-2 in district.

Mineola is ranked 23rd in the state. Chapel Hill leads the district at 6-0 and is 28-2 for the season and ranked 8th in the state.