Last year, Quitman High called the JHHS gymnasium their “home court” as theirs was out of service for the entire year. In their first game back in 2023, this time as the visitor in Jonesboro-Hodge’s home opener, the Class B Wolverines remembered the range from long distance to take a 61-52 victory over their Class 2A parish neighbor.

It was the Wolverines three amigos from three land, Gavin Caskey, Eli Walker and Logan Ponder that did most of the long distance dialing to the tune of an impressive 9-13 combined performance from behind the arc. As a team, Quitman finished the game by hitting 10 of 16 treys (63%) and 22 of 38 shots overall for a stellar 58% shooting percentage. Adding to the bulls eye marksmanship showing was a 7-8 showing from the free throw line. 

Logan Ponder led the Wolverines with 25 points with Gavin Caskey also reaching double digits with 16 as the pair scored all but 20 of Quitman’s points. Eli Walker added seven, Noah Leah six, Brayden Smith four and Braden Marten three. 

Trailing 7-5, Quitman went on a 14-2 run only to see the Tigers narrow the margin to 29-25. Another 10 point run gave the Wolverines a 14 point lead late in the second quarter but again JHHS rallied, highlighted by Chance Leonard making a layup, stealing the inbounds pass and then draining a fall away jumper as time expired in the first half to draw to 39-31 at the break. 

Lady Wolverines get defensive in 46-28 victory over JH girls

Cali Deal made 10 of 13 shots and Quitman held JHHS to four points in both the first and second quarters to take a commanding lead en route to the easy victory. With their season best second win in a row and third in the last four games the Lady Wolverines improved to 5-5 on the up and down season to date.

JHHS falls to 2-4 in head coach Shan Jackson’s first year and in unusual fashion. All the losses have come against teams from lower classifications and the wins being against schools from at least the same class as the Lady Tigers. 

Deal led all scorers with 21 points, followed by 12 from Anna Claire Leach to pace Quitman. A.J. Gray netted nine and Jaleigh Burns finished with four to round out the Lady Wolverines scoring that saw only four players make points. 

McKenzie Bradford and Morgan McGee led the Lady Tigers with eight point each with LaRonda McGuire finishing with five. Sanaa Tatum and Jalenya Jackson tallied three each and Nesha Johnson added a free throw for JHHS.