The Quitman Bulldogs battled Class 4A Wills Point toe to toe before finally pulling out an exciting 47-43 win Nov. 23. The Bulldogs are 2-1 in non-district action. 

Neither team gained more than a six-point lead throughout the contest. A big three-point shot by Jack Tannebaum gave Quitman a 42-41 lead they would not relinquish. Under heavy pressure, sophomore Brady Floyd calmly hit five of six free throws in the final 40 seconds to ice the win. 

Wills Point had closed the gap to 45-43 with less than 10 seconds left in the game when Floyd hit two more charity tosses with less than one second on the clock to ensure the victory.

Wills Point jumped out to a 4-0 lead, but Floyd and Ford Tannebaum each hit a bucket and Garin Kisinger added four points to give the Bulldogs an 8-0 run and take an 8-4 edge. The Bulldogs opened up a 13-7 lead on a Jack Tannebaum trey, which would be the largest lead of the night for either team.

In a low-scoring second quarter, Quitman scored only six points but held the Tigers in check as they scored only eight leaving the score at halftime, 23-22. The third quarter continued to be a defensive battle as the Bulldogs had eight points while holding the Tigers to five, giving Quitman a 31-27 lead going into the final eight minutes.

The fourth quarter was a battle with both teams scoring 16 points. Floyd’s seven points in the final quarter led the Bulldogs. A Levi Thompson three-pointer put Quitman up 34-30 at the 6:36 mark of the final quarter.

Wills Point took a 41-39 lead, but Quitman came back with the Tannebaum triple to take a 42-41 lead with 1:02 left. Great defensive effort in the paint from Kisinger and Landon Richey the entire game was a key to the win. Senior Aiden Corrior calmly led the team with solid defense and put in another consistent floor game on offense.

Corrior and Floyd each had 12 points to lead a balanced Quitman attack. After a Tuesday night contest at Union Grove, the Bulldogs stay on the road taking on former district and Wood County rival Alba-Golden Friday.