Jesuit Dallas held a determined Irving Nimitz squad at bay down the stretch of Tuesday's University Interscholastic League (UIL) bout, using an inspired fourth quarter to improve to 2-0 in District 9-6A with a 51-44 win over the Vikings at Nimitz High School.

The Rangers (12-5, 2-0 UIL) played evenly with the Vikings in an early season battle between two teams with aspirations for the divisional crown.  Jesuit Dallas was unable to increase the lead to more than two possessions until the 2:11 mark of the third quarter, hitting seven three-pointers in comparison to the two converted by Nimitz, while the Vikings outscored the Rangers, 26-16.  In addition, the Rangers scored 17 points off of 13 Nimitz turnovers, a key turning point that helped Jesuit Dallas keep its district record unblemished.

Sophomores Michael Jankovich and Marcus Hill kept their impressive double-digit scoring streaks intact, with Hill scoring 15 points on 4-of-6 shooting from three-point range to increase his mark to seven consecutive games.  Jankovich picked up a team-leading 16 points to notch his sixth straight double-digit effort, adding five rebounds and a pair of assists.

Senior Rusty Landon played a key role in the fourth quarter for Jesuit Dallas, finishing with nine points, three boards, a team-high two steals and a pair of assists.  Junior Jacob Palisch and sophomore Reid Hatzmann tied for the team lead with seven rebounds, with Palisch snagging three offensive boards to help the Rangers score eight second chance points.

Hill kept the momentum from a 22-point performance Saturday against Irving intact, burying the first bucket of the game to give the Blue and Gold an early, 3-0 lead.  After a Jankovich jumper, Nimitz scored eight unanswered points to take the lead back before the Jankovich struck again, hitting a three-pointer with 40 seconds remaining to give the Rangers a 10-9 lead heading into the second quarter.

Jankovich's three started a 7-0 run for Jesuit, sending the Rangers to a five-point lead with 5:31 remaining in the half.  Jesuit Dallas would not score again until the 2:32 mark of the second quarter, when a Kunasek jumper returned the lead to three points against a stagnant Nimitz offense.  Jankovich scored his final basket of the half on a pass from junior Dixon Smith, pushing Jesuit to an 18-15 halftime lead.

Nimitz kept the game in reach during the third, forcing four Jesuit turnovers and shooting 5-of-11 from the floor to stay within striking distance.  With 3:43 left in the quarter Kunasek hit a critical three-pointer to stop a three-minute Ranger shooting slump, increasing the lead back to six points.

Landon began his late game heroics with 5:30 remaining in the game and the Rangers leading, 29-28.  The senior buried a jumper before converting a three-pointer moments after Nimitz tied the game, giving the Rangers the lead on both occasions.  After racing in for a layup on a crisp baseline bounce pass by Palisch, Landon assisted on the first of two three-pointers by Hill with under 3:15 remaining in the quarter that pushed Jesuit to a seven-point lead, severely damaging the comeback hopes for the Vikings.

Over the final 2:30 of the fourth, the Rangers outscored Nimitz, 9-7, highlighted by five points from Jankovich, who scored on a fast break after a Landon steal then converted a traditional three-point play with 1:13 left to finally give Jesuit a three-possession lead.  Hill went 3-of-4 from the free-throw line in the final minute to help the Rangers jumpstart the district season with a 2-0 record.

Jesuit Dallas will return to Walsh Gym for the first time since the 53rd Annual Knights of Columbus Tournament on Dec. 5 this Friday, when the Blue and Gold plays host to W.T. White in the Battle for the Saddle.  Friday will also mark the Rangers' annual Gold Out game, when all fans are encouraged to wear gold in support of the team.  Tip-off for Friday's game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.