Jesuit Dallas rebounded from Tuesday's University Interscholastic League (UIL) District 9-6A setback with a full team effort against Lake Highlands, shooting 52.2 percent from the floor, 48 percent from outside the arc and 85.7 percent from the free throw line to score a 72-65 victory over the Wildcats on Friday evening at Lake Highlands High School.
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Senior
Michael Jankovich scored a team-leading 23 points, hitting four three pointers to help anchor the Ranger effort. Junior
Max Abmas added 18 points, senior
Joey Preboy dragged down a squad-leading eight rebounds while scoring 14 points. Senior
Chris Horton tacked on a career-high seven assists.
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The Rangers (17-3, 2-1 UIL 9-6A) scored 19 points off of 12 Lake Highlands turnovers to move into sole possession of second place in the district.
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How it Happened
- Jesuit jumped out to a 6-0 lead two minutes into the first quarter, maintaining the lead until the 1:37 mark of the first quarter, when Lake Highlands grabbed a one-page lead. Junior Anthony Hollerich buried a three-pointer to swing the lead back to Jesuit, helping the Rangers take a three-point lead into the second quarter.
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- A jumper by Preboy and a three-pointer by senior Marcus Hill jumpstarted the Rangers in the second, but the Wildcats charged back once again to take the lead with four minutes remaining in the half. The two squads traded blows down the stretch of the first half before the Rangers entered the break with a two-point lead.
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- Abmas provided a spark to open the second half, causing a Lake Highlands steal and burying a transition three-pointer to put the Rangers up by five. A key turning point in the contest saw the Blue and Gold hit three consecutive three-pointers, two by Jankovich and one from Abmas, to take a nine-point lead with 2:38 remaining in the third quarter.
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- Lake Highlands came screaming back to close the third quarter on a 6-0 run, but three-pointers by Hill and Jankovich to start the fourth quarter provided Jesuit with another nine-point advantage. The Rangers were able to contain the Wildcats in the fourth, converting 10 free throws over the final 3:30 of the contest to clinch the victory.
Inside the Box Score
- Jankovich's 23-point performance marks the third time in the last four contests that a Ranger has logged 20 or more points. Jesuit is 8-0 this season when a member of the team scores 20 points or more.
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- The Rangers have secured decisive statistical advantages throughout this season, out-rebounding foes, 31.8-25.9 while causing an average of 14.4 turnovers per game. Most of the damage from the Blue and Gold has come in the first quarter, where Jesuit has out-scored opponents, 18.1-14 this season.
Up Next
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Jesuit Dallas will make the short trip to W.T. White to battle the Longhorns on Tuesday, Jan. 9 at 8 p.m. The Rangers will return to Walsh Gym on Friday, Jan. 12 for their annual "White Out" game against Berkner.
