Another stellar rebounding performance and four double-digit scorers brought the Rangers closer to a district championship with a dominant, 71-42 win over Plano East on Feb. 5 at Plano East H.S. Jesuit out-scored the Panthers, 37-14 in the first half and out-rebounded Plano East, 44-17 en route to securing its 10th district win of the year and 25th win of the year.
 
Senior Julius Marble shot 5-of-8 from the floor to close the bout with a team-leading 14 points, while senior Connor Wilson buried 4-for-5 shots from behind the arc to finish the game with 12 points. Senior Max Abmas and sophomore Gavin Perryman scored 10 points apiece as Perryman added a team-leading seven rebounds and a career-high three blocks. Abmas, Marble, Wilson and senior Anthony Hollerich racked up six rebounds apiece while senior John Phillips and junior Eli Steger scored nine and six points, respectively.
 
Jesuit's defense held Plano East to 35.4 percent from floor and 25 percent from three-point range while scoring seven points on 11 Panther turnovers and 15 points off of 16 offensive boards. The Rangers racked up 24 points in the paint and shot 45.5 percent from the floor, 39.3 percent from three-point range and 83.3 percent from the free-throw line.
 
After the two teams exchanged three-pointers to start the game, Jesuit took a dominant, 18-8 run with an 18-5 run over the final seven minutes of the first quarter. The Rangers hit four three-pointers in the first quarter, including two from Wilson, while holding Plano East to a 1-of-8 clip from the floor.
 
Jesuit continued to mount the pressure on the Panthers with a 19-4 run to open the second quarter, resulting in a 37-12 lead with 43 seconds remaining in the first half. Marble threw down a massive dunk a minute into the quarter to jump-start the run, scoring 10 points in the second to send Jesuit into the halftime break with a 13-point lead. Plano East continued to struggle against the Ranger defense, converting only two shot attempts, going 0-for-3 from three-point range and committing four turnovers.
 
The Ranger shooters would shake off a third quarter Plano East run, hitting a trio of three-pointers en route to scoring 19 points in the quarter. Jesuit would hold onto the lead throughout the second half, despite Plano East shooting 42.9 percent in the second half and hitting four three-pointers.
 
Jesuit will return to Walsh Gym for the final time this season on Friday, Feb. 8 against Plano West. Prior to tip-off, Jesuit will celebrate the nine members of the Jesuit Dallas basketball season class. In addition, the Rangers will look to avenge a 63-59 setback to the Wolves on Jan. 15. Friday's contest, including the senior night ceremony, will be broadcast live on JesuitRangers.org with a special start time of 6:30 p.m.