Quistors fall to Canton in 6A quarterfinals

Photo: Olive Branch forward Tommy Callicut works his way inside during Tuesday’s 6A state quarterfinals loss to Canton. (Bob Bakken/desotocountynews.com)

Key Points

• Canton surged past Olive Branch with a 67-52 victory in the MHSAA 6A state quarterfinals at Mississippi Valley State University.
• The Conquistadors struggled with offensive consistency, shooting under 40 percent from the field and missing critical early layups.
• Despite the loss, Olive Branch looks toward the future with four starters returning next season.

ITTA BENA, Miss. — In a matchup defined by missed opportunities and a stifling defensive shell, the Olive Branch Conquistadors saw their championship aspirations cut short Tuesday night. The Canton Tigers utilized a dominant second-quarter run and disciplined perimeter play to secure a 67-52 victory in the MHSAA 6A state quarterfinals at Mississippi Valley State University.

The evening began with a spark for Olive Branch, as the Conquistadors jumped to a quick 10-5 lead. However, the momentum proved fleeting. Canton responded with a resilient rally, closing the first frame on a 12-2 run to take a 17-12 lead—a lead they would never relinquish.

By halftime, the deficit had swelled to 29-21. While a late Tommy Callicut layup kept the Conquistadors within striking distance at the break, the offensive rhythm remained elusive. Olive Branch head coach Eric Rombaugh noted that early struggles at the rim set a somber tone for the contest.

“It was one of those nights where we really couldn’t get anything going offensively or defensively,” Rombaugh said. “We missed a lot of layups early, which led to them getting that lead.”

The third quarter saw Canton extend their advantage to as many as 16 points. Olive Branch battled back to trim the lead to nine, but a controversial sequence late in the period stifled the comeback. After what appeared to be a blatant missed goaltending call against Canton, a technical foul was assessed to the Olive Branch bench. The resulting free throws and possession allowed the Tigers to push the score to 48-37 heading into the final eight minutes.

Tommy Callicut led the Conquistadors with 18 points, while Cordehl Smith and Antonio Hassel contributed 11 and 9 points, respectively.

Defensively, the Tigers forced Olive Branch out of their comfort zone. Without a shot clock in Mississippi high school postseason play, Canton frequently pulled the Olive Branch defenders away from the paint, forcing them to defend on the perimeter or wait out long possessions.

“They kind of pulled us out and attacked,” Rombaugh explained. “We didn’t put ourselves in a position defensively to get many stops, and the stops that we did get on the offensive end, we didn’t capitalize on them.”

The loss marks the end of the road for a senior class of 10 players, a group Rombaugh described as “special leaders” and a “pleasure to coach.” However, the cupboard is far from empty for the Conquistadors. With four starters returning—including two freshmen and a sophomore—the program expects to be back on the big stage next year.

“Championship teams make shots and make plays, and we didn’t make enough of them,” Rombaugh said. “But we’ll live, we’ll learn, and we’ll be back here again next year.”