The Mineola Yellowjack- ets overcame a slow start to cruise to a 66-32 victory over the visiting Harmony Eagles Saturday.

Maybe it was the cold. It felt as though the doors at the end of the gym had been left open. For whatever reason, the Yellowjackets labored through a lackluster opening quarter.

To finish out the first quarter, Mineola turned the ball over in their offensive zone on three consecutive possessions, missed two free throws and gave up a snowbird breakaway. Harmony led after one quarter 10-4.

Mineola needed to jumpstart their offense. Junior guard T.J. Moreland took charge.

Moreland promptly drove the length of the floor for a lay-in, hit a 3-pointer, chalked up two free throws, nailed a second 3-pointer, and on a breakaway issued a graduate-level assist to Braydon Alley for a score to take the lead. 

It was four minutes of hardwood leadership. Moreland finished with 28 points and five assists. After he fired the offensive engine, the Yellowjackets never looked back.

Suddenly, everyone was making plays.

Stephen Ogueri and Conner Gibson combined for a trap which resulted in a quick two points. Dawson Pendergrass had two highlight reel plays in the backcourt: one in which he picked the pocket of a Harmony guard and slammed the ball home and a second when he tipped a pass by accelerating on a crazy angle to the ball. 

The Jackets dominated the boards generating multiple offensive rebound put-back opportunities. Xzavien Lipscomb and Hunter Vandover joined Braydon Alley with strong performances. 

Mineola outscored Harmony by 17 points in the second quarter, 12 in the third and 11 in the fourth. It was a convincing win. 

There is no doubt that potential playoff opponents will have noticed that Moreland lit the fuse for the Jackets offense. 

After road trips to Chapel Hill and Winona, the Yellowjackets wrap up district play on Feb. 15 at home against Quitman.

The Jackets led the district going into the week at 8-1 and faced second-place Chapel Hill Tuesday.