Mineola varsity boys kept their district basketball title hopes alive last Thursday with a 58-42 victory over Winnsboro in a game delayed two days by inclement weather.

The Yellowjackets had a scheduled bye Friday and returned to action at Chapel Hill Tuesday to try to tie the unbeaten Red Devils for the district lead.

Winnsboro never led, and after a 5-5 tie Mineola held the lead the rest of the way.

But the Yellowjackets did not put away the Raiders until late in the fourth quarter.

A Zay Lipscomb three and runner by T.J. Moreland gave Mineola the early lead.

After Winnsboro tied it, Mineola reeled off seven in a row and held the lead 15-9 after one period. The run included a pair of baskets from Isaiah Gardner down low on assists from Keke Martin and Dawson Pendergrass.

Mineola’s lead was as much as nine in the second quarter when Moreland drove the floor after a steal, but Winnsboro pulled with four points on five occasions, the last at 29-25.

The Jackets recorded the final four points of the period as D.J. Newsome scored on a put back and then got a steal that led to a Moreland assist to Ainsley Steward for a 33-25 halftime lead.

Pendergrass, who was shut out in the first half, scored on a put back and then a steal and drive the length of the court to push the lead to 37-25 to open the third quarter.

Two straight buckets from Winnsboro narrowed the gap to 37-30 but Mineola closed out the quarter leading 44-32, capped by a Steward three from the corner.

Winnsboro got no closer than nine the rest of the way, the final time at 49-40, followed by a Gardner basket, a Lipscomb three and a Steward score on a Pendergrass assist to push the margin to 56-40.

Moreland finished the night with 12 points, Lipscomb 10, Pendergrass, Gardner and Martin eight each and Steward seven.

Braydon Alley shot the Yellowjackets’ only free throws on the night, all in the first period, going 1-4.

Winnsboro was 3-8 from the line. Kyler Finney led Raider scoring with 14.