A 16-7 second quarter run by Rains sparked the Wildcats on their way to a 61-39 district basketball victory over Quitman varsity boys Saturday afternoon in Emory.

The teams played even in the first quarter with Quitman’s Jace Reid scoring nine of the Bulldogs’ 11 points. Chris Chabaud muscled his way through the lane for Quitman’s other score. After a Reid bucket tied the game at 9-9, the Wildcats hit a three point shot leaving the score 12-11 after one quarter.

Rains employed a three-quarter length press starting in the second quarter, forcing Quitman into several mistakes. With Rains leading, Quitman’s Trey Berry stole the ball and raced the length of the floor to hit a lay-up, cutting the lead to 16-14. The Wildcats finished the first half on a 10-4 run to go up 28-18.

It was the third quarter when the Wildcats got hot and the Bulldogs went cold. The Wildcats scored 20 points to just eight for Quitman to take a commanding 48-26 lead going into the final period.

The teams traded buckets in the fourth quarter and the Wildcats sewed it up in the 61-39 win. 

Reid led Quitman scoring with 22 points, adding seven rebounds and three assists. Rylie Flanagan had six points and five rebounds while Chabaud added four points. Berry, River Chaney and Trey Berry had two each and Aiden Corrior one point. Corrior also had four rebounds and four assists.

The Bulldogs will try to regroup. They took on county rival Alba-Golden Tuesday and travel to Mineola to take on the state-ranked Yellowjackets Friday night.