The Malakoff Lady Tigers foiled the Mineola Lady Jackets efforts to even the district slate between the two. Malakoff came out the victors 51-34 last Tuesday. 

Unlike the first district meeting, the Lady Jackets did not assign dedicated defenders to smother Malakoff star post Hillary Dawson.  Mineola did employ a sagging man-to-man designed to deny Dawson. 

For the first 10 minutes, the defensive scheme worked exceptionally well. The Lady Jackets were well-versed in the plan and played a keen, aggressive and disciplined game.

Midway through the second quarter, Malakoff moved Dawson to the perimeter, where she could take unhindered shots and exploit passing lanes.  

With the score tied at 7, Malakoff managed an inside bucket after a run of offensive rebounds. They  sunk four 3-pointers on consecutive possessions to take a 23-9 lead into the half. 

The Lady Jackets came out in the second half and did their best to match the productivity of the visitors. A trapping defense in the offensive zone presented Mineola with added difficulties and led to a number of turnovers.  

At the end of three quarters, Malakoff had built a 23-point margin. 

The home side outscored the visitors by six in the final quarter, but it was simply too large a deficit to overcome. 

If the Lady Jackets could take one lesson from the game, it could possibly be to not pass up a decent shot opportunity. Especially in the second half, the Lady Jackets chose to continue passing the ball even when a reasonable shot opportunity existed.

There were a number of individual performances to mention. The energy and physical prowess of Caroline Castleberry, Mahayla McMahon and Sophia Hogue featured throughout the game.

The relentless attempts to drive the basket by Kyra Jackson and Kali Chrietzberg also deserves recognition. 

Height is the great advantage in basketball, and the Lady Jackets got a chance to experience just another way in which it can be employed by Dawson and the Lady Tigers.  

The Lady Jackets have a bye on Friday and will be at Grand Saline Tuesday, Jan. 28.