Zane Strange decisively won the tip-off in Mineola’s 47-43 win over the visiting Longview Lobos last Tuesday. It started the Yellowjackets on the path for a signature, pre-district victory.

Mineola leveraged every aspect of the game to best the 6A Lobos. Although out-sized, the Jackets weathered the inside game of the Lobos, staged a lengthy comeback which dissolved a 14-point Longview lead, changed gears defensively to keep the Lobos off balance and generally maintained their composure better going down the stretch.

It was quality basketball.  

A fast first period saw some of the best basketball of the night. Longview opened with an alley-oop, which was answered by a short jumper from Strange. 

Mineola pressed the Lobos with success. The press created turnovers early in the game and took the Lobos out of their normal offense late in the game.  

Ainsley Steward, Chance Williams, Steve Reyes and Strange scored in that opening period, with Chance hitting a clean bank shot off an inbound play to close out the quarter. The score stood 13-12, Longview.

The Lobos opened a 10-point lead late in the half. They did it with inside play, crashing the offensive boards and driving the baseline. The Longview surge would have been more, but for two excellent plays by Mineola just before the half. 

Steward, who had one of his best games as a Yellowjacket, blocked a shot in the defensive zone, gathered the ball and drove the length of the court to score. Moments later, Beckham Bowker scored by driving the baseline. Mineola went to the break down by 8, 28-20.

Longview started fast in the second half. When the Lobos went up by 14 points, it appeared as though the cause may have been lost for the home side. 

A Steward score off an inbound play, an offensive rebound put-back by Strange and a 3-pointer from Williams reversed the trend. Mineola was not finished.

At the quarter break it was a six-point game, 41-35, Longview.

The Mineola comeback seemed to take the steam out of the Longview side. As the Jackets came out in the final quarter, they went into a 2-3 zone. The move neutralized the Lobos’ speed and held Longview to just one basket in the final quarter – a phenomenal feat.

Steward and Strange continued to provide excellent on-court leadership. Steward led the Jackets with 16 points, seven of those coming in the final quarter. Strange contributed 15 and blocked three shots.

The game was very much in question down to the final buzzer, but it was a baseline drive by Bowker with 1:50 on the clock which was the critical score. It gave Mineola the winning, 4-point edge. 

The Jackets will gladly reflect on this game throughout the season. With consistent pressure, quality shot selection and plain old hustle, Mineola is beginning to put all aspects of the game together. It should be an interesting district run.