The fans who braved freezing temperatures to watch the only games being played in the parish on Friday got their money’s worth as the homestanding Quitman girls and boys took thrilling victories over Choudrant in the final tuneup before district play begins this week. 

The Lady Wolverines won 40-37 for their 7th straight win and 12th in the last 13 games played to improve to a parish best 18-7 record, while the boys won a close 62-60 battle to improve to 17-7 on the year and climb to #6 in the Division V “non-select” rankings. 

Quitman 62 Choudrant 60 (boys): Something about playing Choudrant brings out the best in Noah Leach. In a pre-season scrimmage, Leach made 10 of 16 shots to end up with what was a career high 23 points. That didn’t count. The 12 of 16 shots he poured in on Friday, that led to a new, career high 26 points, did. 

On the night when the spotlight was on teammate Logan Ponder for eclipsing 1000 points in his career, it was Leach who stole the show, scoring 12 points in the final quarter, including the last six, to lift Quitman to the thrilling victory. 

Ponder added 18 on his special night while Riley Duck, who was averaging around 3 points a contest heading into 2024  continued his late season scoring splurge with 8 points for the second game in a row. Eli Walkeer scored six and Brayden Smith finished with four for the Wolverines, who is now the highest ranked Division V school in north Louisiana. 

Quitman 40 Choudrant 37 (girls) Cali Deal scored six of her game high 20 points in the final quarter to help lift the Lady Wolverines to the hard fought victory. Anna Leach scored 11 on the strength of three, 3-pointers, including one in the final frame that was part of her five, fourth quarter points. Taylor Borland added four and it was her last two points that put the final nail in the coffin after Choudrant had rallied to within one point as time was winding down. Jaleigh Burns nailed a three pointer and Emma Walker hit a basket to round out the scoring for Quitman, who continued to stay unbeaten in the new year.