The Quitman Bulldogs ended the basketball season on a good note with a solid 60-52 win over Lone Oak. The win ended Quitman’s quest for the playoffs as they were 4-8 in District 12-3A and 16-17 for the season. Representing the district in the state playoffs will be Mineola, Edgewood, Rains and Alba-Golden.  

The teams matched up in a defensive struggle the first quarter. Quitman’s Chris Chabaud put Quitman ahead 4-3 with just over four minutes to play in the half. Lone Oak’s Brady Wasurick hit a bucket to put the Buffaloes ahead 5-4 but the Bulldogs got four consecutive points from Riley Flanagan and took an 8-7 lead.

Quitman’s Jace Reid popped a 25-foot triple to put the ‘Dogs up 11-8 until the Buff’s Jacob Ramirez answered with a three-point shot making it an 11-11 game after one quarter. The battle continued as Quitman’s Jace Reid took over, scoring 15 of his team’s 19 points in the second quarter. Corrior and Trey Berry each had a bucket in the quarter and Quitman led 30-25 heading into the half.   

The Bulldogs got out to a 35-27 lead early in the third quarter on two free throws by Reid and a triple by Berry. After Lone Oak closed the gap to 35-31, Quitman’s Reid and Chabaud each hit a pair of free throws followed by a bucket and a free throw by Flanagan giving the Bulldogs a 42-31 advantage. Berry added a pair of triples to make it a 45-39 after the Buffs kept clawing their way back into the game. Barry hit one more three-point shot giving Quitman a 49-48 lead going into the final quarter.

The fourth quarter found both defenses raising their efforts. Lone Oak fought back to make it a 52-50 game. Berry hit two more shots giving Quitman a 55-50 edge as time wound down. Quitman took over the final two minutes and held on for the final score of 60-52.

Reid had 24 points for Quitman followed by Berry’s 13, Chabaud’s eight, Flanagan’s seven and four from Corrior.