REGIONAL FINALIST: #8 Rains advances over #11 Mineola 49-42 at UT-Tyler

TYLER, Texas (TXAN 24) - On Monday night, at UT-Tyler, two East Texas programs met to decide who would get a shot at a Regional Championship. Mineola was the designated home team and Rains was designated as the away team, but that did not stop their fans from outnumbering the opposing crowd. The only thing left do to was tip this game off.

Tip-off occurred at 7:04 pm and was controlled by Mineola, but it was Rains who jumped out to a 7-0 lead. Mineola Lady Jackets responded with a 13-4 run as the first quarter reached under a minute, but the Lady Cats were able to hold them off and end the quarter in the lead 16-13.

The Rains Lady Cats turned on the full-court pressure in the second quarter and had an influx of student body fans that added to the gravatas of the moment of crowning an East Texas Regional Finalist tonight. The aforementioned three points lead teetered back and forth between nearly double digits and nearly one possession as Mineola would not go away.

When halftime came, the score was 33-26 in favor of the Rains Lady and this margin was the story of the third quarter and majority of the fourth quarter as Mineola hung around but could never secure and hold on to the lead.

The Rains Lady Cats held a three point lead with 1:32 on the game clock remaining in the final period; a lead they would not surrender on Monday night.

Final Score:

Rains - 49

Mineola - 42