Lake Highlands basketball dismantled Jesuit 64-41 in its district opener at home Friday.
Lake Highlands basketball coach Joe Duffield speaks to the team during a timeout. Photography by Brandon Gonzalez.
The Rangers and the Wildcats (7-7, 1-0 District 7-6A) have split their season series one game apiece for the last two seasons. Friday’s win puts Lake Highlands in prime position to sweep the series for the first time since 2022-2023, with the Wildcats visiting Jesuit on January 27.
Caleb Steger led the offensive attack for the Rangers last season, scoring 22 points in the win against Lake Highlands. But now, with Steger a freshman at Boston College, Jesuit (7-8, 0-1) has had to make up for his lost production.
So far this season, that production has been found in Pierce Popelka, averaging 14.1 points per contest. But against the Wildcats, Popelka struggled to make the same impact, scoring just seven.
Lake Highlands controlled the first half, stiff defense holding the Rangers to just nine and seven points in the first two quarters. Despite Jesuit successfully slowing down the tempo to run its patient offense, the Rangers failed to capitalize on looks from beyond the 3-point line.
That was, in part, due to the Wildcats’ fierce closeouts and defensive pressure, which forced multiple turnovers.
Syncere Anderson, Lake Highlands’ sixth man, stole an inbound pass and took it coast-to-coast for a layup with 6:11 in the second. That score extended the Wildcats’ lead to 19-9, forcing a Jesuit timeout.
On the next offensive possession, Lake Highlands hit Debraylan Randle on the block, where he spun and touched the ball off the glass for two.
The Wildcats continued to produce in the second, growing their lead. Big man Miller Mask nailed consecutive mid-range jumpers and guard Jamion Broome hit a 3-pointer from a step behind the line to fuel Lake Highlands to a 31-16 lead at the half.
Broome, who hit another three and a mid-range jumper in the first, scored all eight of his points in the first half.
In the third, with the Rangers’ backs against the wall, Justin Fern got going. He connected on back-to-back corner threes with 3:27 left in the quarter to force a Wildcat timeout.
After the break, Randle hit a corner three of his own, reclaiming momentum. Lake Highlands rode that momentum through the third, extending its lead to 45-28.
Fouls bogged down the final quarter, with 20 free throws taken in the fourth, but it made little impact on the final score. Jesuit only converted on six of its twelve opportunities from the charity stripe, while the Wildcats made the same amount on just eight tries.
Lake Highlands displayed a balanced offense, led by Randle’s team-high 10 points and vocal leadership.
Mask finished with nine while making his presence felt on the inside. Anderson and Jay’Sean Wilkerson contributed seven each and the Wildcats went home happy.
The Rangers were led by Fern, whose 16 points led all scorers.
Jesuit will next play on the road against Wakeland at 12:30 p.m. on December 30.
Lake Highlands returns to face Rockwall-Heath in the In Season Showcase on December 29 at Lancaster High School.
