Quitman girls stop Mineola

By Larry Tucker
editor@wood.cm
Posted 12/22/22

This was one of those rivalry games that lived up to the hype. It was one of those special games between Mineola and Quitman where both teams played well.

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Quitman girls stop Mineola

Posted

This was one of those rivalry games that lived up to the hype. It was one of those special games between Mineola and Quitman where both teams played well. This time the verdict went to Quitman, led by a determined Maddy Pence who just refused to let her team lose in a 46-42 Lady Bulldog win.

“It was a great team win. Everyone who played contributed in some form. I am so proud of our fight and grit and how we fought the entire game,” Lady Bulldog Coach Blake Hamrick said. “Maddy (Pence) was outstanding and Sadie (VanderSchaff) was able to come in and give us some crucial minutes on the floor.” VanderSchaaf was able to return to the floor after a shoulder injury had been keeping her out of action.  

Pence scored 27 points including four triples and 9-11 free throws including 5-6  in the final minutes as Mineola’s defense sparked them to close a nine-point gap to within 43-42 with 53 seconds left.

Both teams played with defensive urgency, utilizing pressing and sold half-court defense. After Mineola’s Kyra Jackson hit a free throw giving The Lady Jackets a 6-4 lead, Pence hit her first try for Quitman’s first lead at 7-6. Jackson came back with a 12-foot jump shot, giving Mineola a 12-9 lead, but Pence made 3-4 free throws and the opening period ended at 12-12.

Both teams battled with never-ending hustle and effort. Each recorded nine second quarter points and it was 21-21 at the half. Mineola’s Mylee Fisher scored five of her team’s second quarter points while Kyra Jackson hit a triple that gave Mineola a 17-14 edge with three minutes left in the half. Pence hit on a pair of triples in the final two minutes with the final one at 28 seconds left. 

Quitman got the early lead on a shot by Allie Berry, 23-21, but Mineola came right back to knot the score at 23-23 on free throws by Carmen Carrasco and Paris Spigner. Quitman took a 28-24 on a Kaysi Parker free throw but the Lady Jackets came back with a triple by Kyra Jackson as the quarter ended making it a 28-27 lead for Quitman going into the final frame.

Quitman raced to 39-30 lead early in the fourth quarter on a Pence trey, a steal and score by VanderSchaaf and four consecutive free throws from Pence and Parker. Jayla Jackson sparked a surge for Mineola, hitting a pair of three-pointers to close the gap to 41-38.

A Mylee Fischer bucket made it 43-42 with 53 seconds left, but Quitman got free throws from Pence, Parker and Berry to give the Lady Bulldogs the win. The difference on offense was at the free-throw line where Mineola shot 9-16 and Quitman hit 21-32.