Mineola stops Quitman in final regular season game

By Larry Tucker
editor@wood.cm
Posted 2/24/22

Mineola used a strong second quarter, led by Dawson Pendergrass, to upend the Quitman Bulldogs 54-47 in a game the ‘Jackets had to have to earn a share of the District 13-3A title.

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Mineola stops Quitman in final regular season game

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Mineola used a strong second quarter, led by Dawson Pendergrass, to upend the Quitman Bulldogs 54-47 in a game the ‘Jackets had to have to earn a share of the District 13-3A title. The Jackets secured that spot and went on to defeat the Chapel Hill Red Devils in a playoff Friday night to take over the number one seed in the district. Mineola played a bidistrict match with DeKalb at Pittsburg Tuesday night.

The Bulldogs took a 15-13 advantage led by Levi Thompson who scored Quitman’s first six points and added a trey with 2:18 left in the first quarter to give him nine points. Ford Tannebaum added a triple and Ethan Presley had a free throw to lead Quitman. Mineola countered with freshman Xzavien Lipscomb’s triple and a pair of buckets from Braydon Alley. 

Pendergrass basically took over in the second quarter leading the ‘Jackets to a 23-4 spurt to take a commanding 36-19 lead at the half. Pendergrass hit 15 points including a triple at the buzzer to extend the Mineola lead.

Quitman fought back boldly in the third quarter outscoring the Jackets 14-7 to bring the score to 43-33 going into the final eight minutes. Thompson hit for eight points and Brady Floyd added six to bring the Bulldogs within striking distance.

Quitman cut the lead to 38-33 on a triple by Hunter Jacobs with 40 seconds to go in the quarter. Mineola added a bucket and Allen a triple at the buzzer to give the ‘Jackets the 10-point cushion going into the final quarter.

An early bucket in the final quarter by Pendergrass gave Mineola a 47-33 edge. Quitman closed the gap on buckets by Thompson and Floyd to make it 47-40 with 3:26 left. A Pendergrass basket with 1:34 left gave Mineola a 53-43 advantage, but the scrappy Bulldogs kept coming back. 

Thompson made a three-point play the hard way, scoring on a driving bucket up the lane, being fouled and making the free throw to cut the ‘Jacket lead to 53-46 with just over a minute to play. Mineola’s Keke Martin came back with a free throw and Quitman closed on a charity toss by Floyd leaving the final tally at 54-47.

Pendergrass had 26 points to lead Mineola and Thompson had 20 for the Bulldogs.

Mineola senior Stephen Ogueri was honored on Senior Night.

Quitman seniors Jack and Ford Tannebaum also played their final district game for Quitman. Both teams return multiple players with playing time which bodes well for the future in the district.

Both teams headed to the playoffs Tuesday with Mineola taking on DeKalb at Pittsburg and Quitman traveling to Union Grove to face Atlanta.