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The Vincent Yellow Jackets advanced to the sub-regional round of the playoffs with a dominant and balanced win over Tarrant on Tuesday, Feb. 4. (Reporter photo/Keith McCoy)

By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Managing Editor

VINCENT – Toting a nine-game winning streak into the first round of the area tournament on their home floor on Tuesday, Feb. 4, the Vincent Yellow Jackets had all the confidence in the world and it showed in a dominant victory.

Taking on Tarrant for the third time this season, Vincent got points from 12 different players en route to a 73-19 thumping to not only advance to the area tournament championship but the sub-regional round of the playoffs.

The Yellow Jackets scored at least 16 points in every period of the game, while limiting Tarrant to four or less in three of the four quarters.

The dominant night for Vincent started in the first quarter behind a 16-point period. The Jackets got six points from Ryshod Keith in a fast start, while also getting five from Jackson McGinnis.

Combined with an impressive defensive effort that saw the Yellow Jackets hold Tarrant to four points, Vincent was able to open up a quick 12-point advantage.

It didn’t take long for that lead to be extended in the second quarter, mainly because of the defensive pressure.

Tarrant couldn’t find any open looks and got no help from Vincent, who played mistake-free basketball. The Yellow Jackets came out and limited the Wildcats to just two points on one made field goal, while Vincent hit eight field goals from seven different players to total 17 more points and take a 33-6 lead into the half.

Coming out of the break, the Yellow Jackets kept the starters in for one more period, and they capitalized. Tae McGregor posted six points, while five others hit a field goal to help Vincent post 16 more points in the third quarter.

The lid finally came off the basket for Tarrant, but the Wildcats could only muster up 11 points in the period, which allowed Vincent to extend the lead to 49-17 heading to the final quarter of play.

With a hefty lead, the Yellow Jackets got to go deep into their bench in the game, which helped several get valuable minutes ahead of a hopeful postseason run.

Blake Allums, Trey Youngblood, Will Harris and Cobe McKenzie all had at least four points in the quarter, while Martaviun Lawson and TyQun Goodman each added a jumper as well.

That led to Vincent’s best offensive quarter of the game with 24 points, while the defense got back to its lockdown ways by giving up just two more points to create the 73-19 win.

Vincent has now won 20 of its last 21 games and is 23-2 overall on the season.

McKenzie led the way for the Jackets with 10 points, while Keith had eight points, all in the first half.

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