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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

TUSCALOOSA – After losing four games to open the season, the Spain Park Jaguars got in the win column for the first time with a 40-26 victory over the Paul W. Bryant Stampede in the Northridge Thanksgiving Tournament on Monday, Nov. 20.

The Jags’ first win of the season also doubles as new head coach John Hadder’s first win of his Spain Park career.

A pair of three-pointers by Ava Leonard set the tone early for Spain Park, helping her team score 10 points in the quarter and take an early five-point lead.

Now up 10-5 going into the second quarter, the lead wouldn’t last until halftime as the Stampede battled back. Eight of Paul W. Bryant’s 12 points came from Adrienne Hunt, and Spain Park went into the halftime break tied 17-17.

The third quarter was low-scoring as the teams battled to gain the upper hand in the game. The Jags regained a slight 23-21 lead to end the third quarter, but it was all they needed to take control of the matchup.

That’s because Spain Park ended the game on a 17-5 run that was anchored by Leonard and Nylan Calhoun’s shooting from the field and Teagan Huey’s 3-for-4 run on the free throw line down the final stretch.

That run gave Spain Park the 40-26 win for its first of the season.

Leonard led the Jags with 17 points, including three made three-pointers. Tori Flournoy had six points and Jordyn Corey and Huey each scored five points, with all five of Huey’s coming from the foul stripe.