1 of 23

Pelham fought back against a spirited effort from Spain Park to pull away in the second half and hang on for the one-point area-opening win. (For the Reporter/Tracy Wood Franklin)

By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

HOOVER – The Pelham Panthers overcame a feisty defensive effort from the Spain Park Jaguars to earn a win in the opening game of area play.

Pelham defeated Spain Park 35-34 on Friday, Jan. 3 at Spain Park High School after pulling away in the second half to establish a lead that the Jags couldn’t quite overcome.

Before that though, the two teams were fairly evenly matched, as evidenced by a 19-19 score at the halftime break.

The Panthers started out the game as the better team on offense, getting five first-quarter points from Tee King and a 3-pointer from Taylor Hollingsworth while Hannah Bankston and Shea Gallagher utilized their size advantage to control the post.

Ava Leonard and Tori Flournoy hit a pair of shots from the floor to help get Spain Park on the board, but missed free throws compounded with unsuccessful attempts from the field to give Pelham the lead. The Jags went just 1-for-5 from the charity stripe as Pelham took a 12-5 lead at the end of the quarter.

While King and Bankston continued to find success for the Panthers as King got into double figures for the half, Spain Park flipped a switch on offense and got more shots to fall. Leonard scored seven points in the second while Flournoy knocked down a 3-pointer as well.

Those offensive contributions combined with a solid defense helped the Jags tie the game at 19-19 heading into halftime.

The second half started in a literal stalemate as Spain Park held the ball at the top of the key for the first two minutes of the third. After Pelham engaged with on-ball pressure to kick off the proceedings, the visitors got the better of the Jags in the third, holding Spain Park to just a lone free throw in the opening eight minutes of the half.

The Panthers weren’t able to create much separation on the offensive end, partially thanks to the Jags trap defense, but baskets from Hollingsworth and Gallagher gave them a 25-20 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Pelham took advantage of more low-post opportunities in the final quarter, including a pair of baskets from Bankston and another from Gallagher.

While the Panthers found some success in mixing up defensive looks, Spain Park threatened to take the lead with two 3-pointers from Flournoy and one from Teagan Huey to go with four points from Leonard.

However, King knocked down three crucial free throws late to deal the decisive blow and seal the one-point win.

King led the Panthers with 14 points, three assists and two rebounds. Hollingsworth and Bankston each had eight points while Hollingsworth had three rebounds and two steals and Bankston grabbed five boards. Gallagher finished with six points and eight rebounds.

Flournoy and Leonard tied for the Spain Park high with 13 points and Huey scored four points.

Pelham improved to 12-7 and 1-0 in area play and will look to keep the success going during a trip to Chelsea on Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 5:30 p.m.

The Jags are now 11-10 and 0-1 in the area and will stay home to face the Helena Huskies on Tuesday, Jan. 7 at 5:30 p.m.

More Sports

Pelham stifles Spain Park, earns wire-to-wire win in area opener

Chelsea defense dominates in win to start area play

Chelsea begins area play with physical win

Spain Park alum William Green hired as West Virginia defensive line coach