Quitman High boys storm back from big deficit to Quinlan Ford

By Larry Tucker
editor@wood.cm
Posted 12/2/21

A lot of high school basketball teams might throw in the towel if they found themselves down by 16 points with six minutes left to play in the final quarter, but not the Quitman Bulldogs. Quitman …

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Quitman High boys storm back from big deficit to Quinlan Ford

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A lot of high school basketball teams might throw in the towel if they found themselves down by 16 points with six minutes left to play in the final quarter, but not the Quitman Bulldogs. Quitman used a relentless defense and a balanced offense to storm back for a 70-66 overtime win over visiting Quinlan Ford last Saturday.

Ford Tannebaum sank a three-point shot from the left corner, cutting the Quinlan lead to 56-43 with just over six minutes left. The shot sparked a 19-6 run in the final minutes leading to another Tannebaum triple to tie the game at 62-62 with 13 seconds to play.

Brady Floyd took over, hitting a driving lay-up down the lane to start the overtime and gave Quitman a 64-62 lead. It was the Bulldogs’ first lead since the second quarter. Levi Thompson hit two free throws while Floyd added another bucket and a pair of free throws with eight seconds left to secure the 70-66 win.

The first half was an evenly fought battle with Quinlan taking a 30-27 lead at the break. The Panthers came out in the third quarter on fire, sinking three consecutive triples to take a 39-27 lead and things looked bleak for the Bulldogs. The Panthers made six three-point shots in the third period and took a 53-38 lead into the final frame. 

Another triple by the Panthers’ Diego Prada gave Quinlan a 56-40 lead two minutes into the fourth quarter. That’s when Tannebaum hit the triple and Floyd executed a three-point play the old-fashioned way. He made a driving lay-up followed by a free throw after being fouled, making it a 56-46 Quinlan edge. Bulldog full court pressure produced Quinlan turnovers and rushed shots as Quitman methodically cut into the Panther lead.  

The Bulldogs were still 10 points down when Quinlan hit a basket to make it 58-48 with just over three minutes to play. Thompson scored on a put back after a Quitman missed shot to start a 9-0 Quitman run, cutting the Panther lead to 58-57. Quinlan scored a bucket to go up 60-57, but Floyd hit a pair of charity tosses to make the score 60-59 with 46 seconds to go. 

The Panthers’ Matthew McDaniel hit two free throws to put Quinlan up 62-59. It was then that Tannebaum hit the three-pointer making it 62-62 to put the game into overtime. 

Thompson had 18 points and Floyd added 15 for Quitman.

After a Tuesday game at Alba-Golden, the Bulldogs will compete at the White Oak Tournament this weekend.