By JEFF ALLISON / Special to the Reporter

HOOVER—The Pelham Panthers boys’ basketball team defeated Spanish Fort 56-34 Monday, Dec. 28, 2015 in the Big Orange Tournament at Hoover High School. The Panthers took an early 5-2 lead and led the rest of the game.

In the first quarter, Mitchell Rottier made a layup to put Pelham ahead 2-0 on the opening tip of the game. With 6:36 left in the quarter, Alex Reese made a layup and free throw for a Pelham 5-2 lead. With 6:16 Justin Allison hit a three-pointer to give Pelham an 8-2 lead. With 5:37 left in the quarter, Reese made a driving dunk that gave the Panthers a 10-2 lead.

With 4:18 left in the quarter, Cole Whitman made a layup and Pelham led 14-2. Allison made his second three-pointer of the quarter and the Panthers led 17-4. With 2:22 left in the quarter, Allison came back with another three-pointer— his third of the quarter—and Pelham led 20-6. Mason Goolsby made a layup and Pelham closed out the quarter with a 24-6 lead.

In the second quarter, Reese had another dunk and Pelham led 26-6 with 6:39 left in the quarter. With 2:22 left in the half, Allison hit his fourth three-pointer of the half and the Panthers led 33-13. Pelham led 38-15 at halftime.

In the third quarter, Whitman made a 15-footer for the Panthers and led 40-17 with 6:56 to go in the quarter. With 5:39 left in the quarter, Rottier made a layup and Pelham led 42-17. Reese grabbed a rebound and made the layup for a Pelham 46-20 lead. The Panthers went up 54-24 after three quarters.

In the fourth quarter, Seth Torman made a layup and Pelham led 56-34 with 2:28 left in the game. With Reese, Allison and Rottier on the bench the fourth quarter, Spanish Fort outscored Pelham 10-2 in the final frame.

For Pelham, Reese had 17 points and eight rebounds, Allison had 16 points and six assists, Whitman had 11 points and Rottier had six points.