Lady Quistors rally past Canton, return to Big House
Photo: Jayde Matthews (22), shown in action Tuesday against Canton, led Olive Branch in scoring with 15 points. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)
Key Points
- The Olive Branch Lady Quistors overcame an eight-point halftime deficit to defeat Canton 47-41 in the MHSAA 6A state quarterfinals.
- Senior Ivy Selph hit a clutch go-ahead three-pointer with one minute remaining to spark a decisive 9-2 closing run.
- Junior Jayde Matthews led the offensive effort with 15 points, while Caleigh Nix added 12 points in the comeback victory.
ITTA BENA, Miss. — In a game defined by grit rather than grace, the Olive Branch Lady Quistors proved that resiliency is the ultimate postseason currency. Trailing for nearly three quarters, Olive Branch staged a furious late-game rally to upend the Canton Lady Tigers 47-41 Tuesday night at Mississippi Valley State University, punching their ticket to the MHSAA 6A state semifinals in Jackson.
For much of the evening, it appeared the Lady Quistors’ season might reach a frustrating conclusion. Canton utilized the interior presence of Shamira Morton, who finished with a game-high 17 points, to build a 26-18 lead at the intermission.
“It wasn’t pretty at all. It was very ugly pretty much the entire game,” said Olive Branch head coach Jason Thompson. “But the good news for us is that’s why it’s a 32-minute game. They bent, but they didn’t break.”
The defensive adjustment in the second half proved pivotal. After struggling to contain Morton early, Olive Branch shifted their strategy to deny her touches. The pressure began to tell in the fourth quarter as the Lady Quistors chipped away at a 39-33 deficit.
The comeback was ignited by Jayde Matthews, who scored a team-high 15 points. Her corner three-pointer with 2:22 remaining pulled Olive Branch within one.
“She’s been that type of kid for us all year,” Thompson said of Matthews. “She can make the three, make big baskets in timely fashion, and defend well. Tonight, she had a really good overall game, and we needed all of it.”
The defining moment, however, belonged to senior Ivy Selph. With one minute left on the clock and the game tied, Selph stepped into a deep three-pointer that found the bottom of the net, giving Olive Branch a 41-39 lead. The shot was part of a 9-point performance for Selph—all coming from beyond the arc.
“That was that kid being a senior and just living in the moment and making a play for our team,” Thompson said.
Despite Vadaija Pimpton battling through a late-game ankle injury to contribute 8 points, and Caleigh Nix adding 12, the Lady Quistors still had to navigate a tense final minute. Following Selph’s triple, Matthews converted a layup and an additional free throw to extend the lead to 44-39, effectively silencing the Canton crowd.
The victory marks the second consecutive narrow escape for Olive Branch following a tight win over Callaway. The Lady Quistors now turn their attention to the state semifinals in Jackson, moving within two wins of a state title.
