Newton High School's Austin Taylor, left, and Tony Burks go after the ball against Quitman High School's Thurston McCarty Tuesday night.

QUITMAN —Quitman High School’s Shonte Hailes connected on a pair of free throws to push her team’s advantage to two possessions with less than 9 seconds to play, and the Lady Panthers held on for a 59-55 win over Newton High School Tuesday night.

“That shows a lot of experience and composure on her part,” Quitman coach Gina Skelton said of her senior point guard. “She has been starting for me since the ninth grade, and she knows what I want.”

Hailes, a University of Southern Mississippi signee, finished the game with a team-high 19 points.

“We were able to find the open person,” Hailes said. “That’s what helped us get the win. We found the open person, and (we) just tried to get the ball to them as quick as possible.”

Before Hailes’ free throws in the final seconds, Newton had a chance on the prior possession to alter the outcome, but Ra’Jah Hodges 3-point attempt missed, and Myja McNicholos’ put-back was too strong.

“They are just babies (young players). We’ve got some babies,” Newton coach Marcus Luckett said. “Myja is a freshman. Her and McKinely Ware are just freshman; it’s growing pains. I told them in the locker room, ‘You have to take those shots every time; when you get to be seasoned as a sophomore and a junior, those are going to be the shots that you make.'”

The contest was played at a swift pace, featuring two of the top team’s in the area, as each squad advanced to its respective classifications state semifinal game a season ago.

“Because of the uptempo that Newton plays, it helps us get better,” Skelton said. “That’s why we love to play them every year; Coach Luckett does such a great job.”

Quitman (3-0) trailed by as many as 13 points in the second quarter, but managed to cut the halftime deficit to 35-29.

“Our kids showed a lot of grit,” Skelton said. “I thought we did a good job of not panicking. I think that says a lot for our seniors — we start four seniors, so we’re very experienced. We maintained a lot of poise.”

Charged by an 18-point first half from from Autumn, the Lady Tigers (0-2) managed to assert themselves in the early going. However, Quitman limited Taylor to just six points in the final two periods.

“We had to sit (Autumn) a lot because she had three fouls,” Luckett said. “She was going in and out (of the game), offense for defense, and she couldn’t get into a rhythm like she wanted. And of course, (Quitman) always plays good defense, and they kind of keyed on her a little bit.”

Shaterria McKines had 11 points for Quitman, while Vivica Ardd had nine for Newton.

NEWTON RACES PAST QUITMAN

Isaiah Edwards sliced his way into the lane, then fired a pass behind his back to a cutting Randy Brownlee for an easy layup, sending the Newton High School bench and fans into an exuberant celebration.

The assist was just one of a number of nifty passes the senior playmaker showcased en route to helping lift his team to a 62-36 win over Quitman High School Tuesday night.

“It all starts with Isaiah Edwards,” Newton High coach Darrin Gray said. “He gets us going. He’s a coach on the floor. With him, if he doesn’t play well, then we don’t play well. That’s the bottom line.”

Edwards finished with just seven points, but it was his ability to set up his teammates that proved most vital to the Tigers (2-0).

“It doesn’t matter about me scoring as long as we win,” Edwards said. “I don’t have to score; I’d rather pass the ball than shoot it, but I’ll do whatever my team needs me to do.

“I can’t let my teammates see me showing weakness. I have to pump them up. It doesn’t matter who teams put on me, (my teammates) look for me to deliver.”

Quitman (1-2) struggled through out the game and were without two of its top players due to suspension: point guard Javan Aaron and sixth man Sayveon Bumpers.

“When the fourth-quarter buzzer went off, the game is over, and we have to move on,” Quitman coach Chris Coleman said. “In order for us to get on the right track, we have to find some leadership. I think the guys are giving really good effort, but everyone is not on the same page defensively, and we’re not on the same page offensively. We’re lacking the intangibles in the small things — getting on the floor for a loose ball and being scrappy.”

Thurston McCarty led the Panthers with 18 points, but Coleman said he expects more from his senior post player.

“We have to get Thurston in a leadership (role),” Coleman said. “He’s so used to playing the role of feeding off of everyone we played with last year, and then later on in the third and fourth quarter he would be so good. But now, he has to be a guy that starts and finishes for us.”

The Tigers led at the half 38-20. Nine separate Newton players managed to chip in with at least one point, led by DeAngelo Flowers’ 14 points.

“We’re going to play 10 to 12 kids, and we’re just playing to try to wear down people,” Gray said. “This is a big win for us. I know Quitman doesn’t have all its kids, but to come down here and win is a big win. Last year, Quitman beat us twice, so this feels pretty good right now.”