Lady Jackets prevail over visiting Van

Posted 12/5/24

Mineola defeated the visiting Van Lady Vandals last Tuesday, 60-43. Mineola used their tried-and-true formula in the win:

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Lady Jackets prevail over visiting Van

Posted

Mineola defeated the visiting Van Lady Vandals last Tuesday, 60-43. Mineola used their tried-and-true formula in the win: pressure the opponent, out-hustle them, and attack the basket. 

There were no covers on the basket last Tuesday. Jayla Jackson was ranged-in from the 3-point arc, as were Kyra Jackson, Jaeyla Dennis and Aubrey Weekly.  

When freshman Adelyn Steward made the last basket of the half off an inbound play, an instant before the buzzer, it was appropriate. Mineola had played an excellent first half, wringing everything they could out of every second on the clock.

At half, the score stood 35-16, and Mineola had very nearly broken the will of the Lady Vandals. To their credit, however, the girls from Van did not buckle, they came back and put in a good accounting of themselves.

The first half of pressure was fueled by the athletic efforts of Mahayla McMahon, Caroline Castleberry, Sophia Hogue and Steward.  

Midway through the first half, while applying some of that full-court pressure, Castleberry was involved in a head-to-head collision at mid-court.  The impact put both players out of action, giving all fans a scare. After treatment behind the benches both players appeared to be on the mend, although neither returned to action. 

Van closed the margin to 15 points early in the final quarter, but it was their closest point of approach. A score by Steward on a McMahon assist, a 3-pointer from Kyra Jackson and a jumper from Dennis reversed that closing trend. 

Freshman Steward played nearly the whole game and demonstrated excellent basketball acumen. Her court presence, spacing and physicality were outstanding. Once she fully adjusts to the pace of play, she will excel with the Lady Jackets.

The next opportunity to catch the Lady Jackets at home will be Tuesday, Dec. 17 vs. Winona.