Olive Branch girls edge Callaway to Reach 6A quarterfinals

Photo: Olive Branch’s Caleigh Nix, shown in action during the recent Region 1-6A tournament at South Panola. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)

Key Points

• Olive Branch secured a 40-38 victory over defending 6A state champion Callaway in a high-stakes postseason matchup.
• Vadaija Pimpton led the Lady Quistors with 13 points, and Olive Branch never trailed throughout the duration of the contest.
• The Lady Quistors advance to the 6A state quarterfinals to face Canton on Feb. 25 at 4 p.m.

OLIVE BRANCH, Miss. — In a postseason clash defined by defensive grit and late-game drama, the Olive Branch Lady Quistors withstood a furious fourth-quarter rally from defending 6A state champion Callaway to secure a 40-38 victory.

The win punches Olive Branch’s ticket to the 6A state quarterfinals, where they are scheduled to face Canton on Feb. 25. For Callaway, the loss marks the end of a storied run, finishing their season with a 20-10 record just one year after a dominant 30-3 championship campaign.

Olive Branch continues on with a 20-7 record.  

Wire-to-Wire Pressure

Olive Branch set the tone immediately, opening the game on an 8-0 run. Though Callaway responded with seven straight points to close the gap early, the Lady Quistors maintained a slim lead for the entirety of the night.

“We battled, we played, and we held up,” said Olive Branch coach Jason Thompson. “Even though we had some cracks in the armor, we didn’t fold. We didn’t let them get the lead or put us in a worse position.”

The Lady Quistors entered halftime with a 19-15 advantage following a Callaway putback at the buzzer. The third quarter remained a physical, defensive struggle, with Olive Branch extending their lead to 29-22 heading into the final frame.

A Final Stand

The fourth quarter tested the resolve of the Lady Quistors as Callaway’s offense finally ignited, pouring in 22 points in the closing minutes. With 1:30 remaining, Caliegh Nix drove for a crucial layup to push the score to 38-34.

However, Callaway refused to go quietly, narrowing the deficit to 40-38 with 14.4 seconds left on the clock. A late traveling violation against Callaway with 3.8 seconds remaining ultimately returned possession to Olive Branch, allowing them to escape with the two-point win.

“Sometimes it comes down to a competitive will,” Thompson said. “It can be the simple execution of ‘I want it more than you.’ That was a true testament to the kids tonight.”

Statistical Leaders

Vadaija Pimpton anchored the Olive Branch offense with 13 points, many of  which seemed to come at critical junctures in the second half. Nix added 10 points, while Chloe Dorsey contributed nine.

For Callaway, Erin Washington matched the game-high with 13 points, and Shelby Walker added 11 in the losing effort.

Thompson noted that while the offense struggled at times, the team’s defensive identity saved the season.

“We were able to get some stops and play through it,” Thompson said. “We used other avenues of the game like ball security and just doing the simple stuff.”