By BAKER ELLIS / Sports Editor

NASHVILLE – The Spain Park boys’ basketball team finished off its exotic regular season tournament schedule with the NXT Hoop Fest in Nashville from Dec. 28-30. The Jaguars, who have played in tournaments in Illinois and Florida as well this season, traveled approximately 1,500 miles this year to fill their regular season tournament schedule in order to play some of the top prep talent in the nation. In the final tournament on the schedule before returning to Alabama for good, Spain Park won two of three games in Tennessee to move to 11-6 on the season.

In the first game of the tournament, the Jaguars took on Ballard (Ky.), one of the top high school teams in the state of Kentucky, and fell by a final of 90-76. The Bruins opened up an 11-point lead after the first quarter, and Spain Park never threatened the rest of the way. Jamal Johnson, Austin Wiley and Justin Brown each had at least 20 points in the game. Johnson and Wiley each had 23 while Brown finished with an even 20. Wiley also had 10 rebounds to secure a double-double.

The Jaguars bounced back with a 77-62 win over Christ Presbyterian Academy (Tenn.) In the second game, Wiley collected his second double-double of the tournament with 26 points and 15 boards, as well as finishing with six blocks. Johnson had 10 points and 10 rebounds as well, while Brown finished with 12 points and seven boards, respectively.

The Jaguars finished the NXT Hoop Fest with an easy, 70-53 win over Baptist Prep (Ark.). Wiley had 27 points and 17 rebounds in the game, both tournament highs, for his third consecutive double-double.

The Jaguars now return home and will focus on area play as they try to prepare for what could be a deep postseason run.