What appeared as if it was going to be a comfortable night provided some anxious moments late for Poteet, but it was able to hold off North Mesquite for a 47-38 victory on Friday at Poteet High School.

The Pirates (3-9) watched a 15-point lead get whittled down to 35-34 with 4:54 left to play, but they were able to regain momentum down the stretch, sinking their free throws to close on a 12-3 spurt.

Raffaele Gaines scored 16 points and Nathaniel Gaines and Verkedric Vaughns each added 12 to shoulder the offensive load for the Pirates. That trio scored all the points in the first half and no other Poteet player made a field goal in the game.

Despite a lack of balance, the Pirates seized control late in the first half with a 8-0 run in the final two minutes.

Nathaniel Gaines scored inside and Raffaele Gaines then converted one of several North Mesquite turnovers into a layup at the other end. Nathaniel Gaines added another score and Vaughns sank a pair of free throws to give them a 24-14 halftime lead.

The lead swelled to 31-16 early in the second half after a pair of free throws from Chris Murphy, but the Stallions fought back.

Kendrick McCullum, who scored all 10 of his points during the final two quarters, hit three free throws and scored inside as North Mesquite (7-6) hung around at 32-21 going to the fourth.

The Stallions continued their run, as McCullum and Norman Alexander, who had a team-high 16 points, each converted 3-point plays and Marcus Alonzo hit a pair of free throws to cap a 17-3 run that made it 35-34.

But Poteet regained control down the stretch, mainly taking advantage from the charity stripe. While North Mesquite had missed a number of free throws in the third quarter, the Pirates were 8-of-8 down the stretch to help them seal the victory.

Mesquite hands Jesuit second loss of the season

Mesqute completed a successful week of revenge on Tuesday with a 60-51 victory over Jesuit.

A few days after avenging an earlier loss to Episcopal School of Dallas on Friday, the Skeeters repeated the feat against a Ranger team that entered the contest with an 11-1 record.

Mesquite remains red-hot, winning for eighth time in its last nine games to climb above .500 for the first time this season at 8-7.

The Skeeters actually got off to a slow start and trailed by seven after the first quarter, but it cranked up the defensive intensity from there.

Mesquite allowed only seven points during the second and third quarters, allowing them to turn that deficit into a 33-22 lead.

After combining for 55 points through the first three quarters, the teams put 58 points on the scoreboard in the fourth, but the Skeeters were able to withstand every Jesuit run to win comfortably at the end.

Alex Cooper had 22 points to lead Mesquite, while Rashard Higgins and Dejohn Shealy added 13 and eight points, respectively.

FRIDAY: District play starts

Before taking a few days off for the Christmas holiday, area boys basketball teams will be busy on Friday with the start of district play.

In District 12-5A, Mesquite will play on the road at Rockwall-Heath, Horn will host Longview and North Mesquite will play a non-district contest at home against Allen.

Rowlett and Sachse will tip-off the 11-5A season with a head-to-head match-up at Sachse.

Poteet will open 10-4A play with a tough test on the road at Highland Park, while West Mesquite will host North Forney.

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