By BAKER ELLIS / Sports Editor

JACKSONVILLE – After trailing by a single point heading into the final quarter in the 7A Northeast regional final on Feb. 23 against Gadsden City, the Spain Park Jaguars went to work. Showing why they have been considered one of the state’s most talented teams in 2015-16, the Jaguars outscored Gadsden City 20-10 in the final period to get the 70-61 win and advance to the 7A Final Four.

The Titans opened up a 20-18 lead over Spain Park after the opening quarter, and maintained that two-point lead at the break, leading 34-32. The game was still tight after the third, with Spain Park trailing 51-50, before the Jaguars eventually ran away with this one late.

Gadsden City beat Mountain Brook in the regional semifinals on a last-second shot in the game prior to this one, and had a chance to do the same against Spain Park in this game down by three late. However, the Titans did not have the same luck in this one, as a late shot rimmed out, and a late dunk from senior Justin Brown put an emphatic exclamation mark on the game.

It was the third member of Spain Park’s three-headed offensive monster who had the biggest day, production-wise, in this game. Brown finished with 25 points, six rebounds and three steals to lead the Jaguars while Wiley had 19 points, 15 boards and five blocks and Johnson had 12 points, four rebounds and four assists. As Spain Park has done most of the year with Wiley down low, the Jaguars dominated on the glass, beating the Titans on the boards 37-23.

Spain Park is moving on to the Final Four, where the Jaguars will play Lee-Montgomery on Thursday, March 4 at 1:30 p.m. at the BJCC.