One of the oldest rivalries in north Louisiana added another editon to the long history of competition in high school basketball this past Thursday when Quitman High School made the short trip to Weston to tip off the 2022-23 LHSAA prep roundball campaign in the season opening Jamboree.
Supporters of both schools, many who are friends and neighbors, packed the WHS gymnasium as the two Jackson Parish Schools seperated by only ten miles as the crow flies battled through junior varsity and varsity girls and boys contests that were played with a pair of ten minute halves instead of the normal four quarters. In the end Quitman swept all four games with the QHS junior varisty teams winning by 14-2 and 16-10 margins in girls and boys play respectively and the varsity squads winning by similar 41-33 and 42-32 scores.
Junior Varsity Girls:
QHS 14 WHS 2: Six players tallied for the Lady Wolverines including several who were just coming off an undefeated junior high season, as the defense held Weston to only a pair of Anslee Aldy free throws in the first half. Taylor Borland led the way with four points followed by two points each from Emma Walker, Anna Leach, Ali Claire Palmer and Jaliegh Burns. Taylor Harvey added a free throw to round out the scoring.
Junior Varsity Boys:
Quitman 16 Weston 10: Four players scored four points apiece for Quitman as the Wolverines won each half by 8-5 scores. Gratn Williams and Noah Leach did the honors in the first half with Abel Leach and Marvin Delaney doing the honors in the second half. Daniel Watlington scored six to lead the Wolves with Avery Evans and Nathan Wages adding two each.
Varsity Girls:
Quitman 41 Weston 32: The Lady Wolves exploded out of the locker room to take an eleven point lead and allowed only four players from Quitman to score all game but the Lady Wolverines came storming back with a 28 points in the second half to take the victory. Weston controlled the play early with Emma Kate McBride and Lainee Trosclair hitting three pointers and Briley Peterson adding three the old fashioned way as the Lady Wolves stormed out to a 12-1 advantage. Bethany Leach and Brayli Stewart scored four of their 12 points in the game and Anna Leach hit a three pointer later in the half to help Quitman close the gap at to 17-13 at intermission. Cali Deal scored 12 of her game high 14 points in the second half to fuel the second half rally. Peterson scored seven to lead a balanced attack by the Lady Wolves followed by six from Trosclair and five each from McBride and Jessica Newton. Lexi Millien added four, Anslee Aldy scored three and Nadia Siadek hit a basket for Weston.
Varsity Boys::
Quitman 42 Weston 32: Logan Ponder and Brayden Smith drained three treys each as Quitman nailed eight shots from behind the three point line. Riley Duck and Eli Walker also hit three pointers in the first half as the Wolverines took a 26-13 advantage into the break and never looked back. Tait Henderson and Bryce Zehr, who also hit three from “downtown”, led Weston with ten points each follwed by six from Jude Otwell, five from Braden Theriot and a basket by Juan Gonzales. Normal starter Mitchel Mathews was forced to miss the contest due to injuring his ankle earlier in the day. Ponder led all scorers with 13, Smith added nine and Blake Carter eight to pace the Wolverines. Duck and Walker finished with five eachand Nick Kliebert chipped in with two for Quitman.
Photos courtesy of Kristi Tolar, Mandy Roberson, JPJ staff
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