Jaguars’ defense locks down visiting Vestavia

Published 9:49 pm Tuesday, January 31, 2017

HOOVER – A stingy Spain Park defense held visiting Vestavia Hills to single digit scoring in each period of a 50-24 win on Tuesday, Jan. 31.

The win improves the SPHS girls basketball team to 19-9 on the season.

Vestavia scored nine points in the first period but fell short of that mark in each of the subsequent periods, including a low of two points in the third quarter.

The host Jaguars still led after one period, 18-9, thanks in part to Claire Holt’s eight points.

She finished with a game-high 14 points.

Spain Park led 26-16 at halftime and 40-18 after three periods of play.

Ahrielle Parks drained two three-pointers in the third to help cushion the Jags’ lead, while Barrett Herring scored four of her six points in the quarter.

Mallory Duke was Spain Park’s leading scorer in the fourth period with five points.

Duke and Parks each finished with eight points for SPHS, and Bailey Bowers chipped in seven points.

Courtney Milner was the leading scorer for the Rebels with six points, all of which came in the first half.

Spain Park will have one more regular season game, at home on Friday, Feb. 3 against cross-town rival Hoover High School, before the playoffs begin on Wednesday, Feb. 8.

The top-seeded SPHS girls will host the Class 7A, Area 6 tournament, which will include Oak Mountain (No. 2 seed), Huffman (3) and Mountain Brook (4).

After semifinal games on Feb. 8, the championship game will be played on Feb. 10.