Spain Park outlasted the McAdory Yellow Jackets in a tightly contested regional semifinal, winning 50-48 to advance to the Elite Eight. The thrilling game took place on February 19 at Alabama State”s Dunn-Oliver Acadome, showcasing the resilience and determination of the Jaguars.
Recognizing the challenge ahead, the Jaguars anticipated a defensive struggle against the Yellow Jackets. After establishing an 11-point lead in the third quarter, Spain Park faced a fierce comeback from McAdory, which managed to turn the tide and take the lead early in the fourth quarter. Nevertheless, Spain Park maintained its composure, capitalizing on opportunities in the paint and at the free-throw line to reclaim the advantage.
“You won,” said Jaguars coach DJ Black succinctly after the game. “Going to the Elite Eight. It ain”t easy. Ain”t easy to win playoff basketball. So, you won, you move on from this one, you learn, and you move on to the next opponent.”
McAdory scored first, but Spain Park quickly responded, with Tommy Morrison hitting two field goals to take a 7-4 lead. After a brief challenge from McAdory, Spain Park surged ahead with contributions from Harrison Stewart and a late three-pointer by Quinn Davis, ending the first quarter with a 13-8 advantage.
The second quarter saw Spain Park struggling with turnovers, allowing McAdory to narrow the gap. A timeout was called after a sloppy pass from Spain Park, but Owen Leonard helped stabilize the team with free throws, increasing the lead to 19-12. While Spain Park held a nine-point lead shortly thereafter, they were unable to score in the final moments of the half, leading 21-14 at halftime after limiting McAdory to just two points in that stretch.
In the third quarter, Spain Park initially extended its lead to 11 points, but McAdory responded with a 7-0 run, cutting the deficit to five. As the quarter progressed, the Jaguars struggled to maintain their lead, with McAdory closing in to make it 30-29 by the end of the period.
The fourth quarter saw the lead change hands several times. Morrison put Spain Park ahead with a tough bucket, but a scoring lull allowed McAdory to tie the game at 41-41. In the closing moments, Spain Park”s free-throw shooting proved crucial, with Morrison and Cooper Gann stepping up to keep the Jaguars ahead. A free throw from Davis solidified the lead at 50-46, and a late McAdory score was not enough to change the outcome.
Morrison was the standout performer for Spain Park, finishing with 20 points, five rebounds, and five blocks. Davis contributed eight points and six rebounds, while Gann added seven points and three rebounds. After the game, Coach Black acknowledged the difficulties the team faced leading up to this matchup, including illness affecting players and injuries impacting their performance.
Looking ahead, Spain Park is set to face the Calera Eagles on February 25 in the Elite Eight. Black emphasized the importance of getting his team healthy and back into rhythm as they prepare for this critical matchup.
