With Chapel Hill having forfeited a game to Harmony for an ineligible player, Mineola boys had a chance to overtake the Red Devils in the district basketball race last Tuesday, Feb. 7.

But Chapel Hill continued its dominance in 13-3A by stopping the visiting Yellowjackets 49-40.

When district play wrapped up Tuesday night (Chapel Hill vs. Quitman and Mineola vs. Harmony), the Red Devils were expected to be the top seed in the district while Mineola will enter the playoffs as the runner-up.

Much like the first time the two met in Mineola, the Jackets stormed out of the gate and established a good lead. Chapel Hill chipped away in the second period and took command with a dominant third quarter.

Only this time, Mineola clawed back into it.

The Jackets grabbed the lead with a 10-0 run to end the first quarter, ahead 14-4. T.J. Moreland and Zay Lipscomb hit threes in the quarter and Dawson Pendergrass wound up the period with a drive for a layup.

Mineola led by as many as 11 in the second quarter, the last time at 26-15, before Chapel Hill got it down to seven points with the final two baskets of the quarter following a Moreland three.

Isaiah Gardner contributed a put back and Keke Martin a drive for a score.

Chapel Hill’s pressure defense began to turn the tide as Mineola was limited to just six points in the third period.

That allowed the Red Devils to reverse the score. A drive to the bucket to open the fourth quarter gave the hosts a 7-point lead.

Chapel Hill pulled within three to open the second half. A Martin three and Moreland jumper halted the momentum momentarily, but Mineola got only a late free-throw from Pendergrass the rest of the period to fall behind 37-32.

Chapel Hill scored three times in the final minute of the quarter, aided by a Mineola turnover and two free throws as Chapel Hill held for the final shot.

A pair of scores to open the fourth period gave Chapel Hill its largest lead at 41-32.

Mineola responded with a Pendergrass bucket and free-throw followed by a short Martin jump shot to pull within 41-37.

A free throw and layup stretched the margin to 44-37, but Moreland nailed a corner three to pull the Jackets within four.

The Jackets could not get another score while Chapel Hill hit 5-6 free throws in the closing minute for the final margin.

Next up for both teams will be the first round of the state playoffs Feb. 20-21.