With each playoff round, a new test is presented to high school basketball teams. Friday in Hallsville, the Mineola Yellowjackets were examined by a quick, confident Jefferson Bulldog defense that made passing difficult. The Yellowjackets did not overcome the area playoff challenge, falling 56-52 in overtime.

Mineola started strong, grabbing a 7-2 lead a few minutes in, five of those points on long-ranging shots by Hunter Vandover, one on a steal-turned-assist by Dawson Pendergrass, who scored the other two.

The Yellowjackets pushed ahead 12-6 after two buckets by T.J. Moreland.

After shooting 5-of-7 from the field in the first four minutes, Mineola went cold, hitting just 1-of-8 over the next eight minutes. That bucket, a three by Xzavien Lipscomb on which he was fouled, kept the Jackets in touch, down 17–16. It was during this stretch that Mineola first showed some quisling ball-handling and passing, which Jefferson punished with fast feet and hands.

The resulting turnovers and a few fouls allowed the Bulldogs to pull ahead 27-18, where the score stood with just 81 seconds in the half.

A drive to the hoop by Keke Martin earned free throws, both netting points. Lipscomb penetrated and scored despite contact.

Stephen Ogueri’s block gave the Jackets one more possession with 16 seconds left.

Vandover drove off an Ogeuri screen and scored in the waning seconds to make it 27-24 Jefferson at the break.

Six Jackets had put points on the board, led by Vandover with seven and Lipscomb six, though neither scored again, with only Moreland and Pendergrass tallying points the rest of the way.

Having climbed back into the contest, Mineola came out determined to get back on top of the Bulldogs in the third. Five minutes in, the Jackets caught up on a Pendergrass score on a rebound to tie, 32-32.

To close the quarter, Moreland went to work, isolating a defender, driving to the hoop, making the lay-in, earning a free-throw and a one-point advantage after three quarters, 35-34.

The fourth period was not the most productive, and adrenaline was surely pumping through the teenage athletes competing.

The score remained tight. Mineola gained a 43-40 lead with 2:25 left on a Moreland drive through the middle of the lane.

Jefferson began forcing some shots, and Mineola’s dominance on the boards paid dividends but could not produce points on the other end.

A Bulldog floater from the elbow and a foul shot tied it 43-43 with just over a minute in regulation.

With 45 seconds to go, Pendergrass made a nice bounce pass to a cutting Moreland for a backdoor jumper to take the lead by two.

In the remaining time, an area championship victory slipped through the Yellowjackets’ fingers. Though they nabbed a steal and a defensive rebound, they did not manage to secure possession and force Jefferson to foul them. Instead, it was Jefferson who earned charity tosses, both of which fell to tie the game, 45-45 with 14 seconds left.

Moreland was tied-up driving to the basket. Mineola’s inbound pass was tipped and lost out of bounds. A Bulldog heaved a long shot that missed the target.

The area champ would be decided in overtime.

The first extra points came on free throws by Pendergrass, who was fouled on an entry pass.

The Bulldogs hit a three to take a 48-47 edge.

The Yellowjackets reclaimed a 49-48 lead when Moreland sliced through multiple defenders to lay it in for two.

Ogueri grabbed a defensive rebound and was fouled, but his free shot was negated by a lane violation.

After Mineola had cleaned up on the defensive boards all game, a couple fell the other way and the Bulldogs capitalized. Just inside two minutes, Jefferson made a rebound put-back to go up 50-49.

The next trip, Pendergrass made the initial stop in the lane, but a loose ball became Bulldog free throws and a 51-49 game.

The Jackets called timeout with the ball and 46 ticks to go. The inbound pass was stolen, two Jefferson players missed point-blank shots, but a third put it through the net for a four-point margin, stretched to six on two more free throws.

Moreland cut the lead in half, draining a deep ball with 15 seconds left. Pendergrass made a valiant effort to steal the inbound pass, but was sent to the bench for his fifth foul, along with 17 points and 15 rebounds.

Back to the charity stripe with 11 seconds remaining, the Bulldog missed the first but made the second to seal the 56-52 victory.

Moreland, who finished with 21 points, did manage to get a decent look at a three, cutting through Jefferson defenders who unwisely challenged the shot, and he was clearly crestfallen to come so close.

Outside of lone graduating senior Ogueri, who tallied five rebounds and four blocks, there is little doubt that the returning Mineola players will learn from their experience and be a force to be reckoned with next season.