Delbert Ballard Memorial Gym in Quitman has been the site of many exciting basketball games over the years, but this one ranks as one of the top contests played on the historic court.

Levi Thompson calmly swished a pair of free throws with 2.4 seconds on the clock to give the Bulldogs a 52-51 win over Mt. Pleasant Chapel Hill. It was a sweet revenge victory for Quitman which lost to the Red Devils 66-45 in their first meeting.

The Bulldog win knocked Chapel Hill out of a first play tie with Mineola for the top spot in District 13-3A. Mineola was in first place with a 7-1 record followed by Chapel Hill at 6-2. 

Neither team could get more than a six-point lead as they traded buckets throughout the game. 

Chapel Hill used a 10-1 run in the final minutes of the first quarter to take a 13-10 lead. Hunter Jacobs and Garin Kisinger led the way for Quitman in the early going with Jacobs hitting a long triple and Kisinger a pair of free throws followed by powering his way in the lane for another bucket. 

In the second quarter, the Bulldogs got on a roll behind the play of Brady Floyd who scored eight of the team’s 20 points for a 30-25 lead at intermission. Thomas Sebedra hit a big triple to give Quitman an 18-17 lead. 

Chapel Hill fought back to a 21-20 lead, but Quitman countered with buckets from Floyd and a triple by Jack Tannebaum. Ford Tannebaum got into the action making a pair of driving lay-ups. A Thompson free throw at the end of the quarter gave Quitman the five point advantage.

Thompson caught fire in the third quarter scoring nine of the Bulldog’s 11 points and Floyd getting two points on a 10-foot jump shot. Going into the final quarter, Quitman held a 41-35 edge.

In the final quarter, Chapel Hill came back to take a 46-45 lead with just over five minutes to play. The Bulldogs did not lead again until Thompson’s free throws. 

Floyd and Landon Richey fouled out with over four minutes to go. With just 1:50 to go in the game Chapel Hill’s Brandon Braden hit a pair of free throws to put the Red Devils ahead 51-48.

Jacobs hit a shot to cut the lead to 51-50 with a minute to go. The Bulldog defense tried desperately to get control of the basketball as the Red Devils went to four corners and a stall. Free throws by both teams dominated the final minute of play. 

The Red Devils missed four free throws in the final 55 seconds. After the final miss by Chapel Hill with six seconds to go, Thompson drove the lane only to be fouled. The Bulldog junior gave Quitman the win.

Thompson led the team effort with 17 points with Floyd adding 13 and Jacobs nine.

Richey, Jacobs, Kisinger, Presley and Matthews did a great job on defense in the paint for Quitman. Floyd, Thompson, Jack and Ford Tannebaum each played solid defense against Chapel Hill’s outside offensive efforts.

Quitman hit 8-11 free throws while the Red Devils managed only 12-29 from the line.

It was the Bulldogs’ second win of the week after whipping Harmony 62-50 on the road Tuesday.

The standings have Mineola leading the district followed by Chapel Hill, Winnsboro and Mt. Vernon. The Bulldogs are just one game behind the final playoff spot at 4-4. The victory puts the Bulldog’s back in the playoff hunt with four district games remaining. After a game at Winona Tuesday, the Bulldogs finish the season against three teams ahead of them in the standings, Winnsboro, Mt. Vernon and Mineola.