The J.J. Pearce Mustangs rode a formidable frontcourt attack to a 58-50 win over No. 21 Jesuit Dallas on Tuesday evening, handing the Rangers their first University Interscholastic League (UIL) District 9-6A loss of the season. The Rangers battled with the Mustangs throughout the contest in front of a passionate home crowd but were outscored 15-8 in the fourth quarter.
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Senior
Marcus Hill led the way for Jesuit (16-3, 1-1), scoring 13 points on a trio of shots from behind the arc and a 4-for-4 performance from the charity stripe. Classmate
Michael Jankovich added 10 points, junior
John Phillips buried a pair of three-pointers to close out the game with eight points and junior
Max Abmas posted a seven-point performance.
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Hill led the Rangers with five rebounds, followed by four boards apiece from Phillips and junior
Anthony Hollerich. Senior
Chris Horton secured a team-leading three steals while Jankovich racked up a team-leading three assists. The Rangers opened the contest hitting 4-of-8 first half three-point attempts but cooled off in the second half, shooting 29.6 percent from the floor in the fourth quarter.
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How it Happened
- Jesuit lept out to an early, 7-2 lead after a three-pointer from Abmas and four free throws from senior Joey Preboy. However, the Mustangs would use an eight-point run to take their first lead of the game with 3:20 remaining in the quarter.
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- A wild second quarter saw four ties but no lead changes until there was 1:08 remaining in the half. Hill converted four second-quarter free throws then buried a three-pointer with 39 seconds left to help send the Rangers into the break with a three-point lead.
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- J.J. Pearce harnessed control of the game in the third quarter after the Rangers secured a five-point lead on Phillips' first three-pointer of the game. A 9-0 Mustang run provided the visitors a two-possession lead but a three-pointer from Hollerich reduced the lead to one point going into the fourth. The Mustangs clinched the win by holding Jesuit to 3-of-14 shooting in the fourth quarter while converting 6-of-10 shot attempts.
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Inside the Numbers
- The Rangers forced 19 J.J. Pearce turnovers, scoring 10 points off of Mustang miscues. However, Pearce was able to contain the Ranger forwards, only allowing six points in the paint.
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- J.J. Pearce junior center Drew Timme ended the contest with a double-double, anchoring the Mustang effort with 24 points and 18 rebounds.
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Up Next
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Jesuit Dallas will travel to Lake Highlands for its first road district game on Friday, Jan. 5. The Rangers and Wildcats are scheduled to tip-off at 7:30 p.m., beginning a two-game road trip for the Blue and Gold that will continue next Tuesday at W.T. White.