Quitman Panthers grab two at tourney

By By Carver Rayburn / staff writer
Jan. 12, 2002
In the second and final day of the Sam Dale Tournament at Southeast Attendance Center, Quitman High School picked up two victories in boys and girls action.
In the first consolation game, the Lady Panthers of Quitman, 9-7 overall, participated in a slugfest with the Kemper County Lady Wildcats, 6-10. Quitman held on to win the game 48-43 with the help of junior Kemonica McGee who had 18 points on the night.
Lady Panther head coach Judy Morgan was pleased with McGee's play.
The first quarter saw Kemper County open up with a 7-0 run. The Lady Wildcat defense did not allow Quitman their first basket of the game until the 2:23 mark of the first quarter. Quitman fought back with points in the paint and a long three by Kemonica McGee at the buzzer to tie the game at 9-9 at the end of the first.
The two teams traded buckets in the second quarter before a long pass to Lady Panther Shaquilla Mack produced the go-ahead bucket to end the first half.
After taking a 10-18 lead into halftime, coach Judy Morgan's Lady Panthers used second chance points and penetrating moves to the basket to pull ahead 35-26 at the end of the third quarter. The fourth quarter became the most physical one as girls from both squads began talking trash to each other.
After both teams were warned by the referee, Kemper County forced three turnovers and converted them into points. The Lady Wildcats cut the lead to 40-37 at the 3:23 mark. Kemper County would get no closer than three as Quitman junior Mashonna Bonner hit two big freethrows to seal the 48-43 victory.
Kemper County was led by Melody Nave with 15 points and Monique Mosley with 8.
Quitman Boys 60
Southeast 54
Quitman High School picked up another victory last night in boys action. In a game that both schools combined to make 38 turnovers and 39 fouls, the Panthers were able to outlast the hosting Tigers 60-54.
The Panthers started off the game on a 10-0 run that was fueled by eight straight Southeast turnovers. After Tiger head coach Ryan Miller called a timeout, Southeast answered by making their first field goal of the game by Windham Campbell with 3:46 to go in the first. After answering a 10-run by Quitman with a 10-run of their own, the two teams exited the court notched at 23-23.
The second half was lead by Quitman's Lonnie McGee, Brandon Lee, and Jonathan McCarty. McGee and McCarty both finished the night with 14 points each. Panther head coach Steve Hampton felt that the young men pulled their share at the end of the game.
The second half saw four lead changes. Southeast was able to stay in the game due to constant fouls by the Panthers which sent Southeast to the charity line numerous times.
As time ran short in the fourth quarter, Quitman out played the Tigers on the boards grabbing 13 rebounds to the Tigers' 6.