The Quitman Lady Bulldogs made a loud statement Friday night, knocking off the Mineola Lady Yellowjackets 43–36 in front of a packed and energetic home crowd. With payback clearly on their minds, the Lady Bulldogs set the tone early and never let it slip, securing one of their biggest wins of the season as the regular season winds down.

Quitman jumped out to a 12–6 lead by the end of the first quarter and maintained control throughout the night. Their defensive pressure and steady pace proved too much for Mineola to overcome, even as the Lady Yellowjackets fought to stay within reach.

At halftime, Quitman carried a 20–12 advantage into the locker room, fueled by relentless defense and disciplined execution. The Lady Bulldogs extended their lead to 29–21 by the end of the third quarter, and held firm down the stretch as Mineola mounted a late push, pulling within seven points in the final minutes.

Mineola was led by Kali Chrietzberg, who finished with eight points and an impressive 10 rebounds, including eight on the defensive end. Canyon Redding and Sophia Hogue added seven points apiece, with Hogue knocking down a pair of 3-pointers. Caroline Castleberry contributed five points, five steals, and two defensive rebounds, while Kaitlyn McMahon chipped in six points along with a steal and rebound. Mahayla McMahon added three points and five defensive rebounds in a solid all-around effort.

But the night belonged to Quitman, whose balanced attack and defensive intensity set them apart. Addison Sapp led the Lady Bulldogs with 13 points, two rebounds, and an assist. Autumn Cason followed with 10 points, while Laine Kelly and Kaylin Sapp each added six points. Kelly also dished out three assists, and Kaylin Sapp pulled down two offensive rebounds. Jackalyn Alcorn and Annabelle Popek each scored a bucket, and Erin VanderSchaaf made her presence felt with seven rebounds—four on offense—along with a steal and an assist.

Quitman’s defense was the difference-maker, as they finished the night with 20 defensive rebounds, 12 steals, and a block. Time and again, the Lady Bulldogs disrupted Mineola’s rhythm and turned stops into scoring opportunities.

The atmosphere inside the gym matched the intensity on the court. Fans from both schools packed the stands, student sections stayed on their feet all night, and the entire building rose in the closing moments as excitement peaked.

Lady Bulldogs head coach Blake Hamrick praised his team’s effort after the game, saying they played with “incredible grit from tip to the buzzer.” He added that he was proud of how the team competed without getting frustrated, calling it “a testament to our girls’ mental toughness and their will to win.”

With the regular season wrapping up this week, both teams turn their attention toward the playoffs as the top two teams in the district.