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By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

PELHAM – After a unique morning tip-off to kick off the second semester, the Pelham Panthers and Calera Eagles gave their fans in attendance a thrilling treat.

In a county battle that went down to the wire and then some, Pelham defeated Calera 59-52 in double overtime on Thursday, Jan. 2 at Pelham High School in the final game for the Panthers before the start of area play.

Both offenses started out the game strong as the teams combined for 32 first-quarter points. While Ally Barfield and Shea Gallagher each hit multiple shots in the first quarter, the Eagles capitalized on their frequent trips to the free throw line to go 12-for-17 from the charity stripe and take a 17-15 lead into the second quarter.

The teams continued to be closely matched in the second quarter as the Panthers defense surrendered just one shot from the field in the remaining minutes of the half. Pelham took the lead but couldn’t get much distance from Calera as they went into halftime up 25-24.

Then, after scoring just three points in the first half, Tee King erupted for 12 points in the third quarter to supercharge the Panthers offense. However, she accounted for all but one of Pelham’s points during that stretch, leaving it a two-possession game going into the fourth.

With the Eagles trailing 37-31 at the start of the quarter, they soon made their move, matching baskets from King and Hannah Bankston with field goals from Maddie Green and Kora Johnson. However, it was at the free throw line where Calera made up ground as Johnson and Destiny Coates hit six combined free throws to tie up the game at 44-44 and force overtime.

The teams continued to trade blows in overtime, and in the end, they couldn’t be separated at the end of it and went into double overtime tied at 52-52.

However, Pelham’s defense locked in during double overtime and held the Eagles scoreless. The Panthers then scored seven points to pull away and secure the victory.

King led the Panthers with 25 points, including 10 in the two overtimes, in addition to six assists and five rebounds and Hannah Bankston secured a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Taylor Hollingsworth and Barfield each scored eight points while Barfield secured three rebounds and Hollingsworth grabbed two rebounds. Shea Gallagher finished with six points but made her biggest impact on the boards with 11 rebounds.

As for Calera, three players got into double figures with Green scoring 17 points, Kora Johnson dropping 15 points and Jakalynn Johnson finishing with 12 points. In addition, Destyni Grays and Coates each finished with four points apiece.

Pelham enters area play with a 10-7 record and will face Spain Park on the road on Friday, Jan. 3 at 5:30 p.m. for its first area game.

The Eagles will take their 11-8 record into a road matchup at Brookwood on Friday, Jan. 3 at 2 p.m. before going to Bessemer City on Monday, Jan. 6 at 6 p.m.