FROM STAFF REPORTS

Pelham High School’s Qadash Williams banked in a short jumper with one second remaining Jan. 20 to lift the Panthers to a 32-31 road victory over Oak Mountain in an Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 6A, Area 10 contest.

The Panthers (13-8, 2-2 Class 6A Area 10) trailed after each of the first three quarters before outscoring the Eagles by a 12-10 margin in the final period.

Williams led Pelham with nine points while adding five rebounds.  Justin Brooks and Willie Simpson each contributed eight points for the Panthers.

Pelham head coach Joel Floyd called back-to-back timeouts with 5.1 seconds left to set up a final play.  He said Williams was the first option on the play and leading scorer Xavier Lacey the second.  Lacey took the inbounds pass, and after driving baseline, found Williams who connected on the winning basket.

Pelham won for the third time this season over Oak Mountain and claimed the victory Friday despite hitting only 11-of-38 field goals (29 percent).  The Panthers were only 3-of-18 in the opening half but trailed by only two (12-10) at halftime.

“Oak Mountain does a tremendous job of taking you out of your offense,” Panthers’ head coach Joel Floyd said.  “They make you do the extra things to try to score.”

Oak Mountain (3-16, 0-4) was paced by Justin Whisenant who scored 10 points. His baseline drive for a basket with 1:09 remaining had given the Eagles a 31-30 lead and were the game’s final points before Williams hit the game-winner in the lane for Pelham. Jordan Pierce added eight points.

The Panthers outrebounded Oak Mountain by a 27-17 margin. Pelham had 13 turnovers to 15 by the Eagles.

GIRLS

The Oak Mountain High School girls’ basketball team edged Pelham 32-30 in an Alabama High School Athletic Association Class 6A, Area 10 contest Jan. 20.

Hannah Griffin led the Eagles (16-7 overall, 2-2 in Class 6A, Area 10) with 11 points in the victory.

Maegan McDanal added 10 points in the win.