A gritty, full-team performance propelled Jesuit Dallas to the University Interscholastic League (UIL) Region I-6A Area Round, as Jesuit Dallas defeated state-ranked No. 18 South Grand Prairie, 59-53, on Thursday evening at Carrollton Creekview H.S. Jesuit will advance to face No. 24 McKinney in the area round, a match up that will take place on Friday, Feb. 23 at 7 p.m. at Denton Braswell H.S.
Junior
Michael Grant led the way for the Rangers, scoring 13 points for the Blue and Gold. Senior
Justin Kemp scored 11 points while the trio of seniors
Hank Gramlich,
Tre Mergerson and junior
Caleb Steger scored 10 points apiece. Three points from senior
Alec Piotrowski and two points from junior
Charlie Peters capped the Jesuit scoring column.Â
Kemp and Mergerson led the team in rebounding, securing six rebounds for the Rangers. Grant snagged three boards and also led the team with four blocks on the night. Gramlich collected several key traditional three-point plays for the Rangers, which helped the Blue and Gold hold a second half rally from the ranked Warriors at bay.Â
Jesuit finished the evening shooting 54.1 percent from the floor and 57.1 percent from three-point range, holding the high-powered South Grand Prairie offense to a 36.8 percent clip from three-point range. Jesuit held onto the lead for 56.8 percent of the contest, taking the lead with 2:38 remaining in the third and holding onto that advantage down the stretch for the win. Jesuit out-rebounded South Grand Prairie, 26-21, scored 22 points in the paint and notched seven points off of Warrior turnovers.
The Rangers will advance to the UIL Area Round for the first time since the 2020-21 season with the victory, and advance to face McKinney in the second round of the UIL Region I-6A Tournament. The Lions, ranked 24th in the state, defeated Flower Mound Marcus, 64-56, on Monday to advance to the second round. The winner of Friday's area round game will advance to face either Arlington Martin or Lewisville in the UIL Region I-6A Quarterfinal round.
