The Rangers forced 24 Lake Highlands turnovers, but a determined Wildcat frontcourt tipped the scales in the second half, leading Lake Highlands to a 53-49 win over Jesuit Dallas in University Interscholastic League (UIL) District 9-6A action on Saturday afternoon at Walsh Gymnasium.
 
Junior Michael Jankovich scored 12 points to lead the Rangers (12-7, 1-2), posting his sixth consecutive double digit performance. Sophomore Max Abmas added 10 points to the Jesuit effort, hitting two three-pointers to tie Jankovich for the team lead. Senior Mitch Prendergast dragged down a team-high seven rebounds while scoring nine points, tying juniors Reid Hatzmann and Marcus Hill with three assists.
 
Lake Highlands shot 50 percent from the floor and out-rebounded Jesuit, 41-30. A 16-point advantage in the paint proved to be the difference for the Wildcats, who surrendered 19 Jesuit Dallas points off of 24 turnovers.
 
Tied at 4-4 with 4:20 remaining in the first quarter, Jesuit used a 5-2 run to take an early lead. Lake Highlands took its first lead of the game 35 seconds into the second, building the lead to four points with a 7-0 run. Jesuit took the lead back once again with a 6-0 run midway through he second, but neither team scored over the final 3:46 of the half, sending Jesuit into the break leading, 21-20.
 
In the third, both teams exchanged leads until a 14-8, quarter-closing run by Lake Highlands, during which the Wildcats went 6-for-6 from the floor, handed the visitors a four-point lead going into the fourth. A 6-0 run, culminated by a jumper by senior Jacob Palisch, tied the game at 37-37 30 second into the final quarter. However, Lake Highlands erupted for a 9-0 run, and responded seven unanswered Jesuit Dallas points with a game-clinching, 7-2 run to earn the victory.
 
The Rangers will return to Walsh Gymnasium on Tuesday, January 10 to welcome local rival W.T. White for the "Battle for the Saddle". Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.