Fourth-Quarter Run Vaults Rangers Past Rams
In an electric, back-and-forth affair, Jesuit Dallas withstood a 19-4 Berkner run spanning two quarters with an exciting, 18-7 run of its own in the third and fourth, scoring a 68-60 victory over the Rams in University Interscholastic League (UIL) District 9-6A action Friday evening.  Senior Mitch Prendergast scored seven of the team's first 11 points, finishing with a team-leading 19-points to anchor the Jesuit effort. In total, four Rangers logged double-digit performances, including 15 points from junior Marcus Hill, 11 points from senior Alan Garcia and a 10-point outing by sophomore Max Abmas. Garcia fell two rebounds short of a double-double with a team-high eight boards, helping Jesuit out-rebound the Rams, 22-18.
 
Jesuit Racing to the Magic Number
This season, Jesuit is 11-3 when scoring 60 or more points, averaging 65.2 points per game. The Rangers have won six of their last seven games, scoring more than 60 or more points in five of those victories. Most of Jesuit's damage has taken place in the second and third quarters, where the Blue and Gold average 32.7 points per game. A key component is Jesuit's three-point shooting contingent. The Rangers are 6-2 when hitting 10 or more three-pointers, with a 7-5 mark when hitting seven-to-nine shots behind the arc.
 
Opponents Under Pressure
Heading into the second round of district play, Jesuit Dallas opponents have turned the ball over 13.6 times per game over a 21-game span. Over the team's last five games, the Rangers have capitalized by scoring 14.6 points off of opponent turnovers, a key component of the team's 10.8 scoring margin during that same stretch. Sophomore Max Abmas has recorded a team-leading 22 steals throughout the season, followed by 17 steals from senior Mitch Prendergast.
 
Scouting the Eagles
Currently leading UIL District 9-6A, Richardson owns a 14-8 record and a 4-1 mark in district play. On Friday, despite 16 points from Jalen Patterson and 13 from Keaton Wallace, the Eagles suffered their first league setback of the year, 58-47, against Coppell last Friday. Richardson upended Skyline, 60-56, to hand the Raiders their lone loss of the season on January 7, which has also led to a tiebreaker advantage placing the Eagles atop the district.
 
Last Time They Met…
It has been three seasons since the Rangers and Eagles have met, with the two squads last battling in the 2013-14 season. Both members of UIL District 9-5A, the Rangers went 2-1 against the Eagles that season, with Richardson scoring a 60-46, non-district victory over Jesuit on December 28, 2013. The Rangers got their revenge, 52-40, on January 17 before finishing the regular season with a 64-58 win on February 11.
 
Up Next
Jesuit will welcome Skyline to Walsh Gymnasium on Friday, January 20 for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff. The Raiders, ranked sixth in the state according to the most recent Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC) poll, will close the Rangers' first circuit through district play.