Sports > Schools
12-5A BOYS BASKETBALL: Mesquite downs North to clinch postsesaon spot, maintain district lead
By DEVIN HASSON, dhasson@starlocalnews.com
Last season, North Mesquite upset Mesquite in one of its meetings and it ended up costing the Skeeters a share of the district title.
Mesquite refused to let history repeat itself on Tuesday with a methodical 57-46 victory over the Stallions.
The Skeeters improve to 8-1 in 12-5A and remain in first place in front of Longview (7-2) and Horn (6-2).
Mesquite did not dominate any one quarter on Tuesday, but it won them all. The Stallions (3-5), who could have used an upset to boost their own playoff hopes, were still within 41-35 through three quarters, but the Skeeters were able to pull away from that point.
Alex Cooper had 18 points, Javante Wilson scored 14 and Dejohn Shealy added 11 for Mesquite. North Mesquite also had a trio of players in double figures with Mike Williams (16), Norman Alexander (13) and Marcus Alonzo (11).
Horn, meanwhile, continues to quietly keep pace, as they remained in sole possession of third place with a 67-57 win over Rockwall-Heath.
Zach Charles had 19 points, Anthony Sharp tallied 17 and John McMiller added 15 as the Jaguars opened a 47-35 lead and withstood a 22-point fourth quarter by the Hawks.
With two weeks left, Longview and Horn are poised to join Mesquite in the playoffs. Barring a major change, the biggest drama aside from seeding could be in the race for fourth place, where Tyler Lee currently holds a game-and-a-half lead over North Mesquite.
The Stallions have a tough road ahead, with a home game against Longview on Friday and a road game across town at Horn on Tuesday.
Mesquite plays at last-place Rockwall on Friday and then enjoys a bye on Tuesday.
FRIDAY
Friday night certainly offered up plenty of drama in the 12-5A boys basketball race, as the three games were decided by a combined total of 11 points.
But despite the close nature of all three contests, the favored teams were able to escape, leaving only five teams left in the playoff race.
Mesquite stayed ahead of the pack with a tough 60-57 victory over Tyler Lee.
The Skeeters had appeared to have built a comfortable 28-17 halftime lead only to need to hold off a second-half charge by the Red Raiders.
Cooper had 16 points and Wilson scored 13 to lead Mesquite (7-1).
Idle Horn moved into sole possession of third place thanks to Tyler Lee's loss.
North Mesquite kept its playoff hopes alive with a 62-56 victory over Rockwall.
The Stallions dominated through three quarters in opening a 46-26 lead, and while the Yellow Jackets made a late run, North Mesquite was able to hold on to improve to 3-4 and move to within a game-and-a-half of fourth place.
Williams had 16 points, Alexander scored 11 and Stevin Moses added 10 for the Stallions.
STANDINGS
x-Mesquite 8-1 19-9
Longview 7-2 17-12
Horn 6-2 12-14
Tyler Lee 5-4 18-9
North Mesquite 3-5 10-18
Rockwall-Heath 1-8 12-17
Rockwall 0-8 10-17
x-clinched playoff berth
Tuesday's Results
Mesquite 57, North Mesquite 46
Horn 67, Rockwall-Heath 57
Longview 51, Tyler Lee 37
Rockwall, bye
Friday's Results
Mesquite 50, Tyler Lee 47
North Mesquite 62, Rockwall 56
Longview 56, Rockwall-Heath 54
Horn, bye
Friday's Games
Mesquite at Rockwall
Horn at Tyler Lee
Longview at North Mesquite
Rockwall-Heath, bye
Tuesday's Games
North Mesquite at Horn
Rockwall at Longview
Tyler Lee at Rockwall-Heath
Mesquite, bye
Mesquite refused to let history repeat itself on Tuesday with a methodical 57-46 victory over the Stallions.
The Skeeters improve to 8-1 in 12-5A and remain in first place in front of Longview (7-2) and Horn (6-2).
Mesquite did not dominate any one quarter on Tuesday, but it won them all. The Stallions (3-5), who could have used an upset to boost their own playoff hopes, were still within 41-35 through three quarters, but the Skeeters were able to pull away from that point.
Alex Cooper had 18 points, Javante Wilson scored 14 and Dejohn Shealy added 11 for Mesquite. North Mesquite also had a trio of players in double figures with Mike Williams (16), Norman Alexander (13) and Marcus Alonzo (11).
Horn, meanwhile, continues to quietly keep pace, as they remained in sole possession of third place with a 67-57 win over Rockwall-Heath.
Zach Charles had 19 points, Anthony Sharp tallied 17 and John McMiller added 15 as the Jaguars opened a 47-35 lead and withstood a 22-point fourth quarter by the Hawks.
With two weeks left, Longview and Horn are poised to join Mesquite in the playoffs. Barring a major change, the biggest drama aside from seeding could be in the race for fourth place, where Tyler Lee currently holds a game-and-a-half lead over North Mesquite.
The Stallions have a tough road ahead, with a home game against Longview on Friday and a road game across town at Horn on Tuesday.
Mesquite plays at last-place Rockwall on Friday and then enjoys a bye on Tuesday.
FRIDAY
Friday night certainly offered up plenty of drama in the 12-5A boys basketball race, as the three games were decided by a combined total of 11 points.
But despite the close nature of all three contests, the favored teams were able to escape, leaving only five teams left in the playoff race.
Mesquite stayed ahead of the pack with a tough 60-57 victory over Tyler Lee.
The Skeeters had appeared to have built a comfortable 28-17 halftime lead only to need to hold off a second-half charge by the Red Raiders.
Cooper had 16 points and Wilson scored 13 to lead Mesquite (7-1).
Idle Horn moved into sole possession of third place thanks to Tyler Lee's loss.
North Mesquite kept its playoff hopes alive with a 62-56 victory over Rockwall.
The Stallions dominated through three quarters in opening a 46-26 lead, and while the Yellow Jackets made a late run, North Mesquite was able to hold on to improve to 3-4 and move to within a game-and-a-half of fourth place.
Williams had 16 points, Alexander scored 11 and Stevin Moses added 10 for the Stallions.
STANDINGS
x-Mesquite 8-1 19-9
Longview 7-2 17-12
Horn 6-2 12-14
Tyler Lee 5-4 18-9
North Mesquite 3-5 10-18
Rockwall-Heath 1-8 12-17
Rockwall 0-8 10-17
x-clinched playoff berth
Tuesday's Results
Mesquite 57, North Mesquite 46
Horn 67, Rockwall-Heath 57
Longview 51, Tyler Lee 37
Rockwall, bye
Friday's Results
Mesquite 50, Tyler Lee 47
North Mesquite 62, Rockwall 56
Longview 56, Rockwall-Heath 54
Horn, bye
Friday's Games
Mesquite at Rockwall
Horn at Tyler Lee
Longview at North Mesquite
Rockwall-Heath, bye
Tuesday's Games
North Mesquite at Horn
Rockwall at Longview
Tyler Lee at Rockwall-Heath
Mesquite, bye
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