The Quitman Bulldogs held their own against a tough Class 4A Quinlan Ford Panther team in the first half of Friday’s contest. It was the second half that spelled defeat in a hard fought game which the Panthers won 64-50.

Quinlan raced to an early 6-0 lead, but a bucket by Ben Burroughs and a successful triple by Ford Tannebaum made it 6-5. With the Bulldogs down nearing the end of the first quarter, Tannebaum hit another three-point shot followed by a Jace Reid trey making it an 18-15 first quarter lead for Quinlan.

Reid got hot in the second quarter hitting four three point shots for 12 of Quitman’s 14 points, but Quinlan still led 34-29 going into intermission.

Quinlan came out strong to start the second half getting a 15-8 third quarter advantage and taking a 49-37 lead into the final eight minutes. Rylie Flanagan hit a bucket to start the final quarter cutting the Quinlan lead to 49-39, but that was as close as the Bulldogs got.

Reid led the scoring with 24 points with Trey Berry adding seven, Tannebaum and Flanagan six each, River Chaney three and with two apiece, Chris Chabaud and Burroughs.

The Bulldogs are 10-8 going into the Christmas break and have one more non-district game against Maud at Ballard Memorial Gym Dec. 31. District 12-3A play begins Jan. 3 against Grand Saline at Ballard.