I still don't know how the Green Bay Packers blew the NFC championship game. They outplayed Seattle except for the last few minutes. For Cowboy fans, I guess it was poetic justice. New England looked unbeatable, but the Super Bowl is played on the road and neither team will have a home field advantage. I'm not sure who will win the big one, but as much as I dislike the Patriots, they sure look good to me. However, Seattle has already been installed as the favorite. I'm ready to move on to basketball full time.

The Quitman Bulldog varsity boys sure are tough on older folks like me who have to monitor our cardiac health on a regular basis. Not just once, but twice this week they won games going down to the wire. The Tuesday night game, at long time basketball rival Edgewood, was won near the end by an offensive play, a made shot as time ran out. Friday's game against Wood County rival Winnsboro came down to defense and the Bulldogs holding off the Red Raiders as time ran down to the buzzer.

The Bulldogs still hold to at least a tie for the top spot. This team is a reflection of their hard-working and obviously talented coach, Jeff Mason. The Bulldogs rely on depth and get quality play from a bench that sees a lot of playing time, and a starting five that can light it up. Like I said last week, this team is a very legitimate contender for the district championship.

After this week's this week's Tuesday night game at home against Harmony, the Bulldogs travel to Winona to play a tough opponent who is always hard to beat on their floor. The Bulldogs get great leadership from several players and to point out one in particular would be difficult. They have balanced scoring and have no fear on defense against any opponent. The Bulldogs are patient and do not fold up even when falling behind. They are very confident on defense and it shows in their press. I have seen teams able to break their press at times early in a contest, but these 'Dawgs are relentless and just keep coming at you.

Congrats to the Yantis Owls and Lady Owls who continue to win and play better as the season progresses. Coach Mike McMinn took over a team that many thought would be in a rebuilding year and has turned them into a playoff contender. Coach Dee Ann Evans had to take a team with just one starter returning from a regional playoff team and has slowly built them into a solid team that has won their last three games. Returning senior Josie Wetzel leads the offense but her teammates have really began playing at a higher level and the future looks bright. Yantis has a big week coming up. After a bye on Tuesday, it's homecoming and the Yantis teams face off against district favorites Avinger.

Basketball has always been important to Wood County schools. I have a picture in my office I look at every day of the 1939-40 Quitman Bulldogs. They won the coveted Wood County championship that season and my dad and his brother, Clent and Glenn Tucker played on that team. A couple of years after that season, the Bulldogs made it all the way to the state final game before losing.

Quitman has had it's share of great basketball players, boys and girls. I remember watching Lady Bulldog Jennifer Clark set a school scoring record with 45 one night against Canton. The three-point shot finally came into the game and it was a perfect match for young sharp shooter, Lance White. One of the great individual efforts I have ever seen was one night when Ramon Steward pulled down 31 rebounds in a single contest.

Support for the Quitman teams has been great this year. The home games always fill Delbert Ballard Memorial Gym and Quitman always travels well with a pack of encouraging fans.