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Oak Mountain prevailed in a tightly-fought battle with Spain Park to earn a crucial win and split the season series. (For the Reporter/Dawn Harrison)

By ANDREW SIMONSON | Sports Editor

HOOVER – The Oak Mountain Eagles and Spain Park Jaguars went down to the wire in a tightly fought rivalry battle, but in the end, the Eagles came out on top.

Oak Mountain defeated Spain Park 50-48 on Thursday, Dec. 12 on the road at Spain Park High School to avenge a 49-43 loss to the Jags on Nov. 21.

Both teams got some key shots to fall in the first quarter as Caroline Kester scored four points for the Eagles and Elizabeth Butler knocked down a 3-pointer, countering a trio of 3-pointers from the Jags, with two coming from Tori Flournoy and the other from Jordan Corey.

Oak Mountain held a slight 14-13 lead at the end of the first quarter, setting the stage for a tight contest to come.

Kester almost single-handedly willed the Eagles offense on, scoring eight of her team’s 12 points to get into double figures for the first half.

Spain Park kept pace on the free throw line with a 6-for-9 performance from the free throw line along with buckets from Brooke Bentley and Teagan Huey.

Oak Mountain still remained in front heading into halftime, but it was a one-possession game with the score at 26-24.

The offensive floodgates opened for both teams in the third quarter. Nylah Calhoun and Huey led the way for the Jags as Calhoun knocked down a clutch pair of 3-pointers and Huey scored five points to take herself into double figures. MC Hunter also joined the scoring with a 3-pointer.

On the other end of the court, Kester’s deep shooting success continued as she hit both of the 3-pointer she attempted in the third to pair with four points apiece from Nylah Cook and Marly Brown.

Spain Park outscored Oak Mountain 18-16 in the third quarter, eliminating the deficit and leaving the two rivals tied at 42-42 going into the fourth.

That led to a highly defensive fourth quarter as both teams tried to keep the other from scoring the decisive blow.

With most of the damage coming from the field, Zy Walker, Lucy McKeown and Cook stepped up to hit shots for the silent Kester.

In the end, the Eagles earned the narrow two-point win to secure their fourth victory of the season.

Kester led Oak Mountain with a 20-point performance. Cook earned eight points, Walker scored seven points and Brown and Butler each finished with five points.

As for Spain Park, Huey led the team with 14 points, Calhoun joined her in double figures with 10 points, Flournoy scored seven points and Corey had five points.

Oak Mountain will be back in action on the road as it takes on Hueytown on Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 5:30 p.m.

The Jags will get right back to work as they travel to Homewood on Friday, Dec. 13 at 6 p.m.

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