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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

HOOVER – The Spain Park Jaguars found themselves in a tight battle throughout the night against the McAdory Yellow Jackets, but they held off McAdory in the second half for a 48-45 win on Friday, Dec. 15 at home.

The teams were evenly matched coming out of the gate as each sought to gain the upper hand in the matchup. That led to a low-scoring opening period and an 8-8 tie after eight minutes of play.

In the second quarter, Spain Park started hitting shots from long range to create some separation. Jackson Bradley hit a pair of three-pointers and Joshua Fonbah made one as well as he scored five points in the second period.

That gave the Jags a 21-16 lead to take into the halftime locker room, but the battle was far from over.

The Yellow Jackets scored 15 points in the third quarter to make it a one-possession game and put the pressure on Spain Park.

However, TJ Lamar took over on offense and scored 10 of the Jags’ 13 third quarter points to ensure McAdory would not take the lead going into the fourth and final quarter.

With Spain Park up just 34-31 at the start of the fourth, both teams brought their best effort down the stretch in their bids for the win.

The Yellow Jackets hit three baskets from three-point range to stay close with the Jags, but when Spain Park needed players to step up, Harrison Stewart and Parker Chase answered the call.

Stewart scored all seven of his points in the fourth quarter, including five points from the field and a 2-2 trip to the free throw line, and Chase hit all six of his free throws in the fourth quarter.

Those also proved to be his only points of the night, but they helped Spain Park walk away with a hard-fought 48-45 victory.

Lamar led the Jags in scoring with 14 points, Stewart had seven points, Chase and Jackson Bradley scored six points and Fonbah added five more in the win.