This Friday, January 27th the first of the two most anticipated prep basketball matchups of the season by many Jackson Parish residents will take place when Quitman takes the short trip to Weston. The schedule originally had Weston going to Quitman but the venue had to be changed due to the Quitman gymnasium being renovated which resulted in QHS playing their home games at Jonesboro-Hodge which already had a home game scheduled on that date. The action will tip off at 6:00pm with a varsity girls game followed by the contest between the boys but it is recommended to get there early as it is guaranteed that a capacity crowd will be in attendance.
Added to the local flavor is that this isn’t the only battle slated between a pair of neighboring schools. On Thursday, JHHS will host Saline for three games beginning with a Junior Varsity contest at 5:00pm followed by varsity girls and boys action. Both schools will be in action again on Friday for the second round of district contests with JHHS hosting Lakeview in district 3-2A play and Saline celebrating Homecoming by entertaining Dodson for a district 2C battle.
Annually, the rivalry between Quitman and Weston is one of two dates that is circled the minute the prep basketball schedules are released at the neighboring schools. This is Jackson Parish’s version of the Civil War which has been fought with baskets instead of bullets for nearly a century. Many of the combatants have known each other since they were young kids. Often times they have been on the same teams in youth league play and for some, even sit on the same pew at church on Sunday.
The contest is between friends, neighbors, and sometimes even family members but when it comes to this annual twice-staged event it becomes the proverbial “throw the records out” battle that evokes an intensity seldom matched during the season. After all, at stake is bragging rights for the rest of their lives. Other than winning a district championship or in post-season play, no other contest means as much.
Regarding winning district, this season the contest looks to have a direct bearing on who will be the district 2B champion in girls’ play. Both squads have proven to be formidable foes and look to be a step ahead of the other two district competitors. Both have compiled admirable records and rankings with Quitman posting a 17-6 record and the third highest ranking among north Louisiana “non-select” schools in Division V. Weston comes in with a 22-5 record, good for the sixth most wins in Division V in the state and fourth place in power points among north Louisiana schools.
On Tuesday, district play started for both Quitman and Weston, while Jonesboro-Hodge and Saline ended their first round of district contests but results weren’t reported until after press time. Look for game recaps of all the contests played this week and up-to-date district standings in the Sunday edition of the Jackson Parish Journal.
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