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Spain Park's girls basketball team put together a strong performance against Mountain Brook on Feb. 6, to earn a spot in the regional round of the playoffs as well as the area tournament title game. (For the Reporter/Dawn Harrison)

By SETH HAGAN | For the Reporter

HOOVER – The No. 6 Spain Park Lady Jaguars kicked off their hosting duties of the Class 7A Area 6 tournament in style with a dominant win at home on Wednesday, Feb 6.

There weren’t many teams in the state that could’ve hung with the Jags on a night like this where the girls hit 13 from beyond the arc in the first three quarters to bury the visiting Spartans of Mountain Brook 59-34.

“We did a really good job defensively I thought and the last time we played them their zone gave us a lot of trouble,” said Jaguars’ head coach Mike Chase. “So we made a few adjustments and tried to penetrate some gaps and then we were able to find some shooters on the back side and knock down some shots.”

Spain Park (25-6, 6-0), one of the deepest teams in the state, won again with multiple contributors and it started with Ahrielle Parks.

Parks scored seven of the team’s first nine points, as the Jags jumped out to a quick 9-2 lead. The team moved the ball with ease and precision around the perimeter of the Spartans’ zone defense and found holes all night.

The two teams traded baskets the rest of the quarter, but Spain Park hit threes on its last three baskets of the first quarter—a harbinger of things to come.

Sarah Ashlee Barker was in her normal place for the Jaguars: everywhere the ball was. From sticky one-on-one defense to the boards to the transition game then to the 3-point line.

Barker hit the first two of her four 3-pointers in the second quarter as Spain Park started out slow, but came on strong in the end to take a 21-15 lead to a 31-15 advantage at halftime.

“She’s the best player in the state in my opinion,” said Chase of Barker. “She can play all five position and defend all five positions; she can shoot it and handle it. She’s our leading rebounder so when she rebounds the ball on the defensive end we don’t have to make an outlet pass to a guard, she can put the ball on the floor and take off and it gets us down the floor quicker. It’s a huge advantage for us.”

The Jags didn’t waste time coming out of the break, and not only picked up right where they left off before the half, but turned it up a notch further.

Five 3-pointers and a 17-3 run later and Spain Park had blown the game wide open. Barker and Avery Masdon hit two each from long distance and scored 18 of the Jaguars’ 24 points in the period.

Going back to the second quarter Spain Park went on an eye-popping 27-3 run to leave zero doubt in the tournament opener. Additionally, the Jags never hurt themselves and played disciplined basketball with only three turnovers in the game’s first three quarters.

Heading into the game’s final stage Spain Park held a 55-26 lead and played deep into their bench in the game’s final minutes.

The Jaguars’ precision from the 3-point line is a program staple—a distinction that Chase will continue to employ.

“It’s something I’ve been doing with my teams for 20 years,” he said. “When you can stretch people out with multiple people it just opens up lanes and creates a lot problems for defenses. I hate playing against teams that can shoot the three because you always have to give up something on the back end.”

Barker led the team with 16 points on the night, while Parks and Masdon finished with 14 points apiece. Freshman Camille Chase scored all nine of her points from beyond the arc as well.

Barker, Parks, Chase and teammate Bailey Bowers were named to the All-Area team following the game.

With the win, Spain Park clinched a spot in the regional round of the state tournament, but before then will face Hewitt-Trussville for the area title on Friday at 6 p.m.

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