By WESLEY HALLMAN / Sports Editor

HOOVER — Spain Park High School senior forward Colby Ryan nailed a 3-point basket from the left wing with just more than two minutes left for her first points of the game in a Jan. 4 home contest with Thompson.

The deep bomb gave the Jaguars a 45-43 lead, their first lead since a 2-0 lead in the opening minute.

Ryan’s second and final bucket with 1.8 seconds remaining lifted Spain Park to a 49-47 last-second victory over the Warriors.

“It wasn’t my best shooting night,” Ryan said, “but I pulled through when we needed it.”

Ryan’s last-minute heroics impressed Shelton State Community College women’s basketball coach Madonna Thompson, who was waiting to speak with Ryan following the Jaguars’ victory. Ryan, who finished with five points on 2-of-10 shooting from the floor, hit the second game-winning shot of her high school career.

Jessica Freeman led Spain Park (12-8) with a season-high 21 points on 6-of-13 shooting from the floor, including 3-of-9 from beyond the arc. Freeman also hit all six of her free-throw attempts.

Kathryn Boswell and Tori Morgan added seven points each. Ashley Gaston added six points. Morgan and Ryan led the Jaguars with five rebounds each.

Ryan’s game-winner outshadowed Thompson forward KaDeisha Stowes, who led the Warriors (7-7) with a season-high 24 points. Stowes finished 7-of-10 from the field and 10-of-12 from the charity stripe.

Stowes, who scored 14 points in the opening half, also grabbed a team-high 17 rebounds in the loss.

Chelsea Taylor added nine points. Rachel Lawley chipped in five points. Kat Cingoranelli and Asia Anchrum finished with four points each.

Stowes scored seven points in the first quarter to help the Warriors jump out to an early 12-7 lead. Her offensive rebound and putback gave Thompson its biggest lead at 25-14 with 2:35 remaining in the first half.

Spain Park chipped away at the lead throughout the third quarter before tying the game following a 3-pointer by Freeman early in the fourth quarter. The two teams traded the lead a couple of times before Ryan’s game-winner with less than two seconds remaining.