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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

CALERA – The Pelham Panthers needed to catch fire from long range to build up a double-digit lead over the Calera Eagles, and Tee King was more than willing to help.

The sophomore guard scored 28 points for Pelham in a 64-45 win over Calera on Friday, Nov. 22 at Calera High School.

Taylor Hollingsworth helped the Panthers establish an early lead with a pair of 3-pointers in the first quarter as she scored eight points in total during the opening quarter.

Maddie Green scored five points for the Eagles in the first, but it wasn’t enough to keep up as Pelham took a 12-9 lead over Calera into the second quarter.

After being held scoreless in the opening quarter, King started to catch fire, knocking down two 3-pointers along with a field goal and a pair of free throws to score 10 points in the second quarter.

Hollingsworth and Ally Barfield both chipped in four points as well, helping the Panthers counter a pair of Green 3-pointer and increase the lead to 26-17 going into halftime.

King’s strong form from long range only picked up in the third quarter as she scored a trio of 3-pointers, leading a 14-point third quarter from Pelham.

That left Calera in an even deeper hole despite Green continuing to perform well and the team making four of their six free throws in the third.

As a result, the Panthers extended their commanding lead to 50-26 at the end of the third quarter.

King and Green traded 3-point blows in the final quarter as each player hit three more 3-pointers before the game ended.

The Eagles outscored Pelham in the fourth quarter, but the Panthers still walked away with the dominant victory on the road over a county foe.

King’s 28 points led both teams while Hollingsworth joined her in double figures for Pelham with 17 points. Barfield scored seven points and Hannah Bankston had six points in the win.

As for Calera, Green finished the evening with 25 points, Reckenzie Smith had eight points and Kora Johnson scored six points.