Holding the Irving Tigers to 22.7 percent from the field and 19 percent from three-point range while forcing 14 turnovers, the Jesuit Dallas Rangers moved to 7-1 in University Interscholastic League (UIL) District 9-6A play with a dominant, 73-34 victory on Tuesday evening at Walsh Gymnasium.
Three members of the Blue and Gold notched double-digit performances, led by junior
Mitch Prendergast, who recorded a team-high 16 points a day after earning Ranger of the Week accolades. Sophomore
Marcus Hill shot 5-of-13 from the field to finish with 15 points, while classmate
Michael Jankovich recorded 10 for the Rangers.
Jesuit Dallas (17-6, 7-1 UIL) out-rebounded Irving, 41-26, scoring 15 second chance points off of 13 offensive boards. Senior
Ben Kunasek led the charge with eight rebounds, adding seven points and an assist, while seniors
Shawn Regan and
Rusty Landon joined junior
Jacob Palisch with six boards apiece. Regan and Palisch added eight points each while sophomore
Reid Hatzmann recorded a team-leading five assists.
In the first quarter, the Rangers started the game with seven unanswered points, but were unable to replicate the 26-point first quarter seen in the first matchup between the two teams on Jan. 2, settling for a 15-10 lead at the end of the opening stanza. Jesuit took over in the second quarter, out-scoring the Tigers, 16-2, closing the half on 10-0 run that propelled the home squad to a 31-12 advantage at the break. The Rangers scored 10 points off of seven first half Irving turnovers, holding the Tigers to 1-of-11 from three-point range and an 18.2 field goal percentage.
Jesuit Dallas kept the pressure on the Tigers in the third, inflating the lead to 32 points with 30 seconds remaining in the quarter on a layup by Regan. After outscoring Irving, 22-9, in the third, the Rangers finished the game with a 20-point fourth, capping off a convincing performance with a 9-0 run late in the contest that saw the Blue and Gold shoot 3-for-3 from the field while converting three free-throw attempts.
The Rangers will conclude a three-game home stand on Friday, welcoming Nimitz to Walsh Gymnasium for a 7:30 p.m. tip off.
