Quitman said hello and goodbye in grand style by dominating Dodson in both the girl’s and boys contests on Tuesday. The hello was to the 2022-23 season that has now begun with a 1-0 record for both QHS squads following the 54-7 and 77-26 victories. The goodbye was to the Wolverine’s home gymnasium which will undergo a facelift beginning this coming Monday that will force Quitman to play their home games at Jonesboro-Hodge High School for the remainder of the season. The combined 98-point margin of victory goes down as one of the best opening nights in school history.
Quitman 54 Dodson 7: It was an impromptu Senior Night celebration as QHS head coach Kyle Leach honored Emma Carter, Ansley Folks, Summer Grillette, Bethany Leach and Brayli Stewart by starting all five in the only time they will get to play on their home floor all year. It wasn’t long though that the remaining 13 girls on the roster started being freely subbed in as the game got quickly out of control.
It was over early as Quitman scored the first 17 points of the game and then made 22 more before hapless Dodson scored their third point of the contest late in the third quarter. In the end nine Lady Wolverines shared in scoring, paced by Cali Deal with 11 and Summer Grillette, Ansley Folks and Brayli Stewart all adding nine apiece. Taylor Borland chipped in with six and Bethany Leach scored five. Additonal scorers included Jaleigh Burns and Anna Leach with two each and A.J. Gray adding a free throw.
| TEAMS | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | TOTAL |
| Quitman (1-0) | 15 | 11 | 15 | 13 | 54 |
| Dodson (0-1) | 0 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
Wolverines ride second-quarter surge to victory
Quitman 77 Dodson 26: At the end of the first period the score was 18-14 in the favor of the Wolverines. By the time Dodson scored again, it was 34-16 as Quitman opened the second quarter with a 16-point run. Eleven more straight points by the Wolverines bumped the lead to an overwhelming 45-16 advantage at the half as QHS cruised to the season-opening victory as Dodson managed to score only 12 more points over the final three quarters.
Four reached double figures for the Wolverines in the balanced attack that saw twelve players tally on the night. Logan Ponder led the way with 15 followed by Eli Walker and Blake Carter with 12 apiece. John Reagan Halsey finalized the double-figure scorers with ten. Brayden Martin added eight, Grant Williams, Abel, and Noah Leach scored four and Mason Delaney tallied three. Case Sims and Jamall Johnson chipped in with two and Asher Shultz rounded out the onslaught with a free throw.
| TEAM | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | TOTAL |
| Quitman (1-0) | 18 | 27 | 16 | 16 | 77 |
| Dodson (0-1) | 14 | 2 | 6 | 4 |
QHS hits the road for Thursday / Friday tilts
The first two of what will essentially be a season-long road trip will begin on Thursday with QHS traveling to Summerfield for a Thursday evening contest beginning at 6:00pm. The next day Quitman will go to Claiborne Christian with the opening tip of the first game beginning at 5:00pm.