Most coaches will downplay any talk of “getting revenge”.

Still, head coach Kyle Leach and the girls basketball team from Quitman Junior High had to feel extra good following beating Choudrant 41-22 in the finals of the Lady Aggies tournament played this past Thursday and Friday as back on August 26th it was Choudrant that gave QJH the only blemish on their season record 

The victory improved the Lady Wolverines’ overall record to a sparkling 8-1 mark on the year and netted a straight tournament title after taking crowns in the Dodson and Quitman Tournaments the previous two weekends. The Lady Wolverines advanced to the title tilt by beating Jackson Parish rival Weston 32-27 in the opening round. 

As is his nature, the always humble coach Leach was quick to give praise to his players for their play that propelled Quitman to the victory but it was a key coaching decision that played a big role as well. 

“I am really proud of our girls for coming back to the place where we suffered our only loss and get the win. It shows a lot about what they are made of,” said Leach. “They really stepped up and turned in what I think is our best effort of the year so far.” 

What was the coaching decision that was important in the victory?

“For the first time in as long as I can remember, we decided not to press,” laughed Leach. “Choudrant did pretty well against our defense the first time we played them so we decided to sit back in a 2-3 zone and see if that would make a difference.” 

Statistics of the game proved the decision was near genius as Choudrant managed to make only 8 of 42 field goal attempts (19%) and made only 1 of 14 three-point efforts (7%). 

Offensively, the Lady Wolverines turned in a total team effort that saw two four players score within four points of each other, led by Kynleigh Leach and Ella Simonelli, scoring 11 and 10 points respectively. Audrina Martin finished with nine points to almost become the third “double digit” scorer and Bella Caskey added 7 points and pulled down a new career high and team season best 16 rebounds. Amelia Staggs pitched in a pair of baskets as well. 

Quitman 32 Weston 27 (first round) – With the score tied at 24-24 after three back-and-forth quarters that saw both teams make runs only to have the other answer, it was Quitman that had the final surge to take the hard-fought victory. 

Weston opened the contest by jumping out to an 11-3 first-quarter lead on the strength of six points by Kate Keiffer and five from Rachel Bandy.  Behind five points from Ella Simonelli, who tied her career best with 14 points in the contest, and all four points Amelia Staggs made in the game, Quitman rallied to narrow the deficit to 16-13 at the half.

By holding Weston to three points by Bandy, a Mallory Malone basket, two free throws from Don’Nia Spence, and another charity point from Keiffer, Quitman used five points by Audrina Martin and baskets by Leach, Caskey, and Elliot Savage to draw even heading into the final frame.

It was an inspired QJH defensive effort that forced 8 turnovers in the fourth quarter that made the difference as Weston, now 4-3 on the season with two of the losses coming against Quitman, managed only three free throws and was unable to make a basket in 8 attempts.