Bulldogs take third at Ballard tourney

Posted 1/4/17

The Quitman Bulldogs overcame an early 13-0 hole in the first quarter to storm back and take revenge for an earlier tournament loss to the Wolfe City Wolves for a 37-28 win and a third place finish …

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Bulldogs take third at Ballard tourney

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The Quitman Bulldogs overcame an early 13-0 hole in the first quarter to storm back and take revenge for an earlier tournament loss to the Wolfe City Wolves for a 37-28 win and a third place finish in the Delbert Ballard Tournament Wednesday through Friday.

The Bulldogs lost to the Wolves 49-36 in the second game of the tournament after beginning the classic with a 54-35 win over Whitehouse JV. The Bulldogs rebounded from the loss to the Wolves to win one of the tournament’s most exciting games, a 60-56 victory over Canton. The Bulldogs fell to district foe Edgewood in a tournament semi-final game 56-35 setting up the battle for third place with Wolfe City.

In the third place win, things didn’t start well for Quitman. Wolfe City hit their first three consecutive three-point shots to go up 9-0. The Wolves led 13-0 when the Bulldogs scored on a Garrett Taylor jump shot with just five seconds remaining in the quarter to have a 13-2 lead after one period. Starting the second quarter, Taylor hit a three-pointer followed by a Jace Reid bucket to cut the Wolves’ lead to 13-7.

At that time, Garrett Peek decided he was not going to be denied on either end of the floor. After a Peek free throw, the hustling junior forward stole a pass and drove for a bucket to cut the score to 13-10. Jacob Rowland scored to cut it to 13-12. Peek then buried a three-pointer from the corner, a short jumper and two free throws to put Quitman up 19-15 at intermission. Peek scored 10 of the Bulldogs’ 17 second-quarter points.

The Bulldogs had a 6-4 third quarter advantage to take a 25-19 lead into the final quarter. Speedy Jake Farmer caused several Wolfe City turnovers in the final eight minutes and the Bulldogs hit for 12 points, while hitting 8-9 free throws down the stretch giving Quitman the 37-28 win and the third place trophy. Peek’s 12 points led the Bulldogs.

In the Canton contest, the Bulldogs fought back from a 21-13 deficit on three-point shots by Josh Medlin, Reid and Taylor to go into intermission down 26-22. Quitman got a pair of treys from Taylor in the third quarter to climb into a 36-36 tie going into the final eight minutes.

Canton took a 43-36 lead with just over four minutes to go in the game when two Farmer free throws and a Peek bucket cut it to 43-40. Canton maintained a 49-45 lead until Reid hit a pair of charity tosses to make it 49-47. Canton hit a free throw with 18 seconds to go, but Farmer was not to be denied as he calmly sank a three-point shot from beyond the top of the key to tie the game with six seconds to go at 50-50 and force overtime.

With Canton leading 51-50, Taylor sank a triple from the corner to put Quitman up 53-50. A Canton bucket put the Eagles ahead 54-53 until Peek scored with 1:38 left to give the Bulldogs a 55-54 lead. Canton would get two free throws, but Quitman would get free throws from Farmer and Taylor to give the Bulldogs a 60-56 win.

Coach Jim Reid was pleased with the play of the Bulldogs. “I love coaching these kids, they are tough and just a bunch of fighters. It never matters what the score is in a game, they just keep coming back and playing hard. It may not always be going our way, but these kids just won’t lie down and quit,” Reid said. “Against Wolf City, Garrett Peek had his best game of the year. I have been waiting for that to happen and he really stepped up and was able to get the job done.”

The Edgewood Bulldogs defeated the Troup Tigers for the tournament championship while Big Sandy – Dallardsville took consolation honors with wins over Hooks and Fruitvale. For Quitman, Farmer and Taylor were named to the all-tournament team.

The Bulldogs are now 9-9 for the year and 0-1 in district. “It’s going to be a great district race. Mineola knocked off Kemp and both of those teams are talented. I believe Edgewood should still be the favorite,” Reid added. “The battle will be for the fourth and final playoff spot. It should be an interesting district race.”

Quitman heads back into district action Tuesday going to Eustace before coming home this Friday for a contest with county rival Alba-Golden.