It was a whale of a game. On the same night that the Mineola boys knocked off the Longview Lobos, the Mineola girls hosted the Tyler Chapel Hill Lady Bulldogs – and former Lady Jacket head coach Tony Riley. Mineola lost in a thriller, 42-41.

The game was a series of ebbs and flows. It started with three trips down the court for each team with no scoring. It was an inside bucket from Mahayla McMahon, with an assist from Adelyn Steward, which first illuminated the scoreboard.

Each team struggled in that opening period, but the Lady Jackets had the better part of the play. McMahon added two free throws, Canyon Redding scored on an offensive rebound put-back, and Kali Chrietzberg scored with a cross-over drive. At the break the score stood 8-2, Mineola. 

The Lady Jackets effectively pressed the Lady Bulldogs from the opening tip. They forced two 10-second violations and created multiple turnovers. 

Chapel Hill came out reenergized in the second period. They harassed the Mineola backcourt and created havoc as Mineola tried to get into offensive sets.

The game was tied at 13, when Caroline Castleberry scored on a drive and Kaitlyn McMahon put up two scores to restore a Mineola lead. At the half, it was Mineola 22-18.  

Chapel Hill drilled two 3-pointers in quick succession to start the third. For Mineola, the wheels came off the track in a breathless third quarter. They were outscored by 10 points in the quarter, and it appeared as though the game may have been decided.

It was a laser-like pass ahead by Castleberry to Kaitlyn McMahon, who scored on a lay-up, which indicated the Lady Jackets were not yet done. 

Mineola methodically came back. They executed smartly on offense and used anticipation and rebounding to chip away at the deficit. 

With 1:30 to play, an inside score from Redding made it a 3-point game, 42-39, Chapel Hill.

Moments later, Castleberry stole a pass in the forecourt. She got the ball to Chrietzberg who found Redding for the score. It was a one-point game, with under one minute to play.

Each team had chances in the closing seconds, but the best opportunity came at the buzzer. Two clean jump shots from the Lady Jackets went just awry.

Redding led Mineola with 14 points. She was joined in double figures by Kaitlyn McMahon with 10 points. Castleberry, Mahayla McMahon and Chrietzberg also scored for the Lady Jackets.

There were two clear takeaways from this game. Despite the absence of height, Mineola has considerable inside strength with Mahayla McMahon, Redding and Steward. When they are able to get the ball inside, the game turns in their favor. Secondly, the Mineola defense can match the quickness and speed of any opposing team.