By TREY HICKMAN/For the Reporter

MONTEVALLO — Jordan Bishop turned in a monster performance for the Calera varsity boys’ basketball team as the Eagles bounded back from a halftime deficit to down host Montevallo 63-57.

Bishop racked up 28 points — including 19 in the second half — and pulled down 10 rebounds for his second double-double in as many games.

“Jordan Bishop was really big for us, said Calera head coach George Drake. “He’s a senior, and we talk about it all the time, seniors, they have to carry a load. You’re kind of warranted that title when you’re a senior, to carry the load, and that’s what he did. He came out here and he played like a senior. He did the things that we needed to do to win down the stretch.”

Bishop and Montevallo’s Bobby Anderson powered their respective teams in the opening half, with each scoring nine points. Their point production mimicked the heated contest as the Bulldogs entered intermission with a 25-22 edge. Montevallo broadened its advantage in the third period and the Bulldogs began the final quarter up by four.

In the pulse-pounding fourth period, the teams traded baskets until Drew Marling drained a 3-pointer to pull the Eagles to within one. Bishop aptly followed by scoring two and nudging Calera into the lead 53-52. Fouled in the act of shooting, Bishop’s trip to the free-throw line saw him hit his attempt to complete the three-point play.

Calera (2-1) never relinquished the lead and ultimately took the victory.

“With the team’s effort I can’t be more excited or more happy (with) the way they came out here and played,” Drake said. “The effort and the energy was incredible and we talk about it a lot: We have to stay the course and we have to be resilient. We have to be a resilient team.”

In addition to Bishop’s night, Drew Marling had 11 points for the Eagles. James Gayden contributed six points and 10 rebounds while Chasen Baker recorded eight points and four rebounds in the winning effort.

For Montevallo (2-6), Tae’ Smith rang up 17 points, Cortez Williams had 16 points and Anderson added nine points.