The district-leading Edgewood Bulldogs handed Mineola a 62-41 defeat last Tuesday on the Jackets’ home court. 

The Edgewood side is one of the better teams to come out of District 15-3A in recent years. They have all the physical components of a quality side: height, quickness and strength. They also possess accurate shooting hands and great finishing ability around the basket. 

In order for Mineola to upset the number one seed, everything would have to go according to their plan. 

For the first quarter and a half, the Jackets’ plan was working. With 3:21 to play in the half, the score was locked 18-18. 

The game was largely decided in the next few sequences. Mineola committed a turnover in the offensive zone, which led to a breakaway. An offensive rebound put-back added to the deficit when a fortuitous bounce found a Bulldog under the basket. Consecutive 3-pointers pushed the lead to ten points as the halftime buzzer sounded. 

In the waning seconds of the half, Zane Strange made a superb effort to slap away a lay-up on an Edgewood breakaway. His play was indicative of the fight in the Jackets.

Mineola scored twice to open the second half. Ainsley Steward went the length of the court and finished with a beautiful scoring drive. On the next possession, Steward again drove the basket, but, at the last second, dished the ball to Strange, who laid the ball in.

It was a great start and reduced the deficit to six. 

Edgewood’s offense began to produce. The Bulldogs put up 18 points in the third and 16 points in the fourth.  A 7-point run late in the third opened a 19-point lead. Once the Bulldogs began to score, they played faster and scored at a greater pace.

The Jackets, of course, never quit; but, once a deficit was opened, Mineola lost the ability to challenge for the game. 

As the game ended, Steward and Strange gave the home fans a memorable play. Steward sliced through the Bulldog defense and went airborne. He laid the ball up for Strange, who adjusted to it in mid-air and converted with an artful lay-in. It was a beautiful play.

Mineola defeated the Malakoff Tigers 55-47 on Feb. 13 and sit in third place in district with a 7-4 record. The Jackets traveled to 4th place Winona on Feb. 16 in the final district game of the season. Playoff match-ups will be forthcoming.