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12-5A BOYS BASKETBALL: Skeeters edge Longview in battle for first place
By DEVIN HASSON, dhasson@starlocalnews.com
Some coaches will say it is not how a team starts, it is how they finish.
For Mesquite, it was both on Tuesday night.
The Skeeters got off to a strong start, slumped through two quarters, and then exploded late to pull out a 59-57 victory over Longview in a battle of undefeated teams at Mesquite High School.
Only three players scored for the Skeeters, but it proved to be barely enough, as Alex Cooper poured in 25 points, Davion Keys had 18 and Rashard Higgins added 16.
Mesquite started well, grabbing a 20-13 lead after the first quarter. But the offense went cold from there, as they managed only 14 points during the next two periods combined, leaving them in a 42-34 hole going to the fourth quarter.
But just as it seemed as if the game was slipping away, the Skeeters regained their touch, roaring back to outscore the Lobos 25-15 during the final eight minutes to eke out the win.
It was a good night for Horn and North Mesquite, as well.
The Jaguars improved to 3-2 and moved into a tie for third place with Tyler Lee with a 60-47 victory over Rockwall.
The first quarter made the difference when Horn outscored the Yellow Jackets 18-9. Rockwall chipped away in the second quarter, but the Jaguars pushed the advantage to 51-38 through three quarters and the Yellow Jackets were unable to make a serious run.
Anthony Sharp led all scorers with 25 points for Horn, with Alan Hodge adding 12 and Zach Charles chipping in with eight.
Aaron Maxwell had 21 points for Rockwall.
North Mesquite opened the game with a huge run and then held on down the stretch for a 63-59 victory over Rockwall-Heath to improve to 2-3 in district play and remain a game out of the playoff hunt.
The Stallions played with a sense of urgency against the winless Hawks in the beginning and found themselves with a 24-7 lead after one quarter.
Rockwall-Heath did not go away, though, getting back to within 48-35 at the end of three quarters and then outscoring North Mesquite 24-15 in the fourth, but the comeback fell just short.
Norman Alexander scored 22 points to pace the Stallions, with Leslie Davis tallying 12 and Ryan Bradley and Mike Williams each adding 10.
Jackson Zivney had 21 points in a losing effort for Rockwall-Heath.
The first half of the 12-5A season wraps up on Friday with Mesquite trying to close out a perfect half with a road game against Horn. North Mesquite can move into a tie for a playoff spot on Friday if it can win on the road at Tyler Lee.
In addition to the Jaguars' clash with the Skeeters on Friday, they have another big game on Tuesday when they open the second half of district play at Longview.
FRIDAY
It might seem like just an early-district win right now, but Horn's 49-26 victory over North Mesquite on Friday might prove to be huge down the line.
With the victory the Jaguars took a one-game lead over the Stallions for the fourth and final playoff berth.
Horn took control in the second quarter, as a 14-5 run turned a one-point game into a 23-13 lead.
The Jaguars kept up the defensive intensity in the second half, stretching the lead to 14 through three quarters and closing on a 15-6 spurt.
Sharp almost outscored North Mesquite by himself with 25 points, while Charles added 12 points and Hodge with 10.
Alexander and Williams paced the Stallions with eight and six points, respectively.
STANDINGS
Mesquite 5-0 16-8
Longview 5-1 14-11
Horn 3-2 9-14
Tyler Lee 3-2 16-7
North Mesquite 2-3 9-16
Rockwall-Heath 0-5 11-14
Rockwall 0-5 10-14
Tuesday's Results
Mesquite 59, Longview 57
Horn 60, Rockwall 47
North Mesquite 63, Rockwall-Heath 59
Tyler Lee, bye
Friday's Results
Horn 49, North Mesquite 26
Tyler Lee 64, Rockwall-Heath 49
Longview 55, Rockwall 34
Mesquite, bye
Friday's Games
Mesquite at Horn
North Mesquite at Tyler Lee
Rockwall at Rockwall-Heath
Longview, bye
Tuesday's Games
Horn at Longview
Rockwall-Heath at Mesquite
Tyler Lee at Rockwall
North Mesquite, bye
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