By NEAL EMBRY / Special the Reporter

HOOVER – The Spain Park Jaguars found themselves in a fight with the Madison Academy Mustangs Friday night in their last regular-season home game of the season, but found a way to win, 74-65.

Madison Academy’s star player, Josh Langford, missed the game with injuries, but the game was still filled with plenty of excitement. Thanks to 14 three-point shots made, the Mustangs kept it close in a tough road environment, and never trailed by more than nine.

Junior phenom Austin Wiley and junior guard Jamal Johnson led Spain Park on both sides of the ball. The Auburn commit finished the night with 23 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks. Spain Park head coach Donnie Quinn noted that Wiley has grown in several areas this season, notably his intelligence around the rim and his offensive game. Johnson led all scorers with 25 points, and added seven rebounds.

In addition to their strong performances, Wiley and Johnson both reached the 1,500 point milestone for their careers in just three years.

Both teams shot exceptionally well throughout the game, from inside and outside the three-point line. Mustangs Will Acuff and Cole Tomlinson made many of the threes for Madison Academy. Acuff finished with 19 points and four rebounds, while Tomlinson finished with 13 points.

Spain Park answered the hot shooting of Madison Academy with a strong inside game, led by Wiley. Wiley used his long arms and excellent defense to deny the inside presence of the Mustangs, whose biggest lead came in the second quarter.

Spain Park used a 14-0 run that stretched from the end of the first half through much of the third quarter, shutting down the Mustangs high-powered offense and finding Wiley, Jackson and senior Justin Brown, another key offensive leader, who led the Jaguars to a solid lead in the second half.

Madison Academy failed to register points in the second half until well over seven minutes into the third quarter. But the Mustangs three-point shooting came back strong, and led to an exciting fourth quarter.

With the help of five threes, Madison Academy drew within two of Spain Park. However, the Jaguars continued to answer for the Mustangs, and as time ticked away, they were able to finish off the visitors with free throws and clutch defense.

“I’m proud that we hung in there, and found a way to win it in the end,” Quinn said.

Spain Park will travel to Hewitt-Trussville next week, in their last regular season game before postseason play begins.