By BAKER ELLIS / Sports Editor

HOOVER – Headed into the fourth quarter of Spain Park’s home matchup with Pelham on Dec. 8, it looked as if the Lady Jaguars had the game all but sewn up. Leading 44-31 headed into the final quarter, Spain Park had outscored Pelham in each of the preceding three quarters and was in complete control of the game. The Lady Jaguars were without freshman guard Skyla Knight, who was sidelined with a walking boot, but regardless were still in the driver’s seat heading into the fourth quarter before Pelham gave them everything they could handle in the last quarter, and fended off the Lady Panthers for a 54-49 win.

Pelham came out of the gate in the fourth quarter hitting everything it threw at the basket. Spain Park was flat and lackadaisical on offense, and before the Lady Jaguars could blink Pelham had pulled the game back to a six-point margin at 46-40. The Lady Panthers were pressuring the ball all over the court, and forced Spain Park into a number of mistakes late in the game. After Jamila Wilson hit a pair of free throws with three minutes left in the game, Pelham had pulled even with Spain Park at 46-46 and had gone on a 15-2 run to pull even.

It was as close as Pelham came to winning the game, as a quick bucket from Bailey Bowers followed by a backbreaking three from Elizabeth Philpot once again gave the Lady Jaguars some breathing room. Pelham had expended all its energy in pulling even with Spain Park late in the game, and could not make up the difference, as Spain Park held on to win 54-49.

Spain Park has now won four games in a row and moved to 5-3 while Pelham, after starting the season 2-1, has now lost eight in a row and fell to 2-9.