DALLAS - Senior Justin Fern scored a career-high 27 points to help lead Jesuit Dallas past first place J.J. Pearce, 67-61, at Walsh Gym on Thursday night.

Fern and classmate Pierce Popelka were not to be denied as the duo made clutch shot after clutch shot to power the Rangers to their fourth-consecutive victory. It was also the team's eighth in the last 10 against the Mustangs and their fifth-straight at home over JJP.

Jesuit is now 11-12 on the season and 4-3 at the midway point of District 7-6A play. JJP dropped to 22-5 and 6-1.

Jesuit shot 51 percent on Thursday and 17-10 margin in the third quarter to take the lead and hold on through the final eight minutes. The Rangers made a season-high 12 3-pointers.

The score was tied four times and the teams traded the lead 13 times but not again after a Fern triple with 2:29 left in the third. That keyed an 8-1 run to close the period and push Jesuit to a 46-40 lead. After Ferns trey, Popelka had a free throw and two layups in the run.

The lead ballooned to as many as 13 in the final frame with Fern and Popelka scoring 18 of the team's 21 points in the fourth.

Will Mitchell led the Mustangs with 24 points, six rebounds, five assists, three blocks and four steals.

Jesuit will continue its 4-game homestand on Tuesday night when it plays host to Lake Highlands at 7 p.m.


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