Area Champions. The term has some heft to it. It carries just a bit more respect than the bi-district title, as it should. For the Mineola Lady Jackets an area championship means that they were one of four teams from districts 13, 14, 15 and 16-3A still playing basketball. 

The area championship designation came last Thursday as the Lady Jackets wore down the Jefferson Lady Bulldogs and secured a 41-33 win. The Lady Jackets – a team which went through some early season struggles – had arrived. 

Simply put, the Lady Jackets beat the Lady Bulldogs down the floor time and again. Coach Wilson’s charges ran the floor and pressed the action. Over the course of the game, it was clear that Jefferson had tired. The Lady Jackets captured the momentum through physical effort and retained it after an error-prone first quarter.

For Mineola two facts curbed the first quarter action: a realization that the game would be very closely called, and nerves. It was refreshing to watch a basketball game wherein the three referees called the fouls they saw. Yes, it resulted in a lot of early calls, but each team modified their play and produced quality basketball.   

The six Mineola first-quarter turnovers appeared to be simply nerves – two traveling calls, a backcourt violation, a tied ball and errant passes. Jefferson, however, largely failed to capitalize on the Jackets’ miscues.

Jefferson led 9-7 after one quarter of play. They were killing the Lady Jackets on the boards. The Lady Bulldogs also left five points begging at the free throw line in that opening quarter. 

Two passages of play in early action indicated that the Lady Jackets were going to battle the whole game. Kapri Riley, who had an excellent defensive game, took a charge early in the game. Moments later, Macy Fischer ripped the ball away from a Jefferson guard at the top of the key.  

A different Mineola team came out in the second quarter. They played responsible offensive basketball: taking good shots, moving off the ball and exploiting what the game gave them.

Mylee Fischer tied the score with a drive down the lane. Macy Fischer came up with a loose ball in the offensive zone and made an inside score to put Mineola in front 11-9. More solid inside work by Mylee Fischer, a breakaway score by Riley and back-to-back scores on structured inbound plays built a 21-13 lead at the half.

The Lady Jackets found their offensive groove in that second quarter, and it was fueled by recording 11 rebounds.

Mineola stretched their lead to 12 points at the midway mark of the third quarter. Riley hit a 3-pointer to make the score 30-18, and it looked as though the Lady Jackets might dominate the action. Jefferson, however, was not going quietly. At the quarter break the margin was nine points.

With four minutes remaining, the Lady Bulldogs had closed the deficit to six points. Following a wild sequence of play in the mid-court, Coach Wilson took a full time out with 3:00 on the clock. It was a wise decision.

In the ensuing three possessions Mylee Fischer drove the lane for two points, Riley scored on a breakaway and Jayla Jackson hit an arching 3-pointer from the deep baseline. In one minute of precise basketball, Mineola restored a 12-point lead.  

The final two minutes of play featured some back and forth action and a few desperation fouls. The Lady Jackets finished with an eight-point area championship victory. 

Each Lady Jacket contributed to this win. All nine players who were dressed saw significant playing time, and more importantly made significant contributions to the win – from Paris Spigner’s strong hands to Gracie Finley’s hustle, it was a team win. 

Mylee Fischer led Mineola scorers with 19 points. Riley added 11, Macy Fischer 5, Jayla Jackson 3, Spigner 2 and Ava Johnson 1.