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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

CULLMAN – The Pelham Panthers got off to a strong start to the season as they powered their way to a season-opening win on the road.

Pelham defeated the Cullman Bearcats 45-41 on Monday, Nov. 11 at Cullman High School in a tough Veterans Day battle between the 6A powers.

The Panthers were led by a strong day from junior guard Tee King as she dropped 18 points to help her team surge past the Bearcats for a tight win.

However, the Pelham offense got off to a slow start as it could only score seven points in the first quarter, including four points from King and a 3-pointer from Ally Barfield.

Cullman used a pair of 3-pointers to fuel an 11-point quarter and take an 11-7 lead into the second quarter.

The Panthers continued to play from behind over the next two quarters but kept the game within striking distance.

The Bearcats limited the scoring to just King, Barfield and Taylor Hollingworth in the second quarter, with Barfield scoring five points and Hollingsworth knocking down a 3-pointer to get onto the scoresheet.

However, Cullman continued to outpace Pelham and increased its lead by one to 21-16 as the teams went into the locker rooms for the halftime break.

The Bearcats defense continued to hold in the third quarter as the Panthers only mustered seven points during that stretch, although five of them came from King to get her into double figures.

Cullman added to its lead once again with a 10-point effort in the third, putting the hosts up 31-23 going into the final eight minutes of the game.

Pelham needed a spark in the fourth quarter to overcome the eight-point deficit. The visitors got just that in the form of the three scorers who got them there.

Barfield drained a pair of 3-pointers as she scored eight points in the fourth quarter, and Hollingsworth added six points from two field goals and a 2-for-3 stretch at the line.

King also helped the Panthers claw their way back in from the free throw line as she went 6-for-10 in the fourth quarter alone from the foul stripe, scoring eight points over the course of the final eight minutes.

Cullman continued to battle on offense but could only score nine points compared to Pelham’s 22-point outburst. That helped the Panthers come from behind and win by four points.

King finished the game with 18 points, Barfield scored 16 points, including four 3-pointers and Hollingsworth had 11 points as the trio were the only scorers for Pelham in the game.

The Panthers will look to earn another win when they travel to Mountain Brook on Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 5:30 p.m. to face the Spartans.