Spain Park boys overtake Hewitt in area basketball opener
Spain Park was just a little bit better on Tuesday night.
In the Jaguars' first Class 7A, Area 6 contest of the season, at Hewitt-Trussville, Spain Park won each quarter by a slight margin en route to a 69-46 victory on the hardwood.
They outscored the hosts by five in the first quarter, and six in each of the final three periods to reach the 23-point margin.
Austin Wiley led the way with 19 points, as the Jags had a decided height advantage. The Huskies attempted to frustrate him throughout, but the Auburn commit kept his cool and threw down a big dunk late in the second quarter.
“It is what it is,” Spain Park head coach Donnie Quinn said. “We’re bigger and it’s a big advantage for us, but they’re not going to let us have that.”
Hewitt-Trussville matched Spain Park step for step in the first period, as the Jaguar shots quit falling and the Huskies upped their game after falling behind 6-0. Matt Hicks sparked the offense early on with a pair of jump shots off of pump fakes and tied for the team-high with ten points.
Quinn was especially pleased with his team picking up a road win, but wants more from the defensive side of the ball.
“To improve our defense is really important,” he said. “People are still able to drive on us too easily.”
The Jags put a total of four players in double figures, with point guard Jamal Johnson scoring 15, Jameson Floyd adding 11, and Justin Brown chipping in ten. Floyd knocked down three timely three-pointers, and Brown scored six in the third period.
“He brings offensive intensity, he brings strength, and he’s a good rebounder. He’s got a lot of assets that he brings,” Quinn said of Brown.
Sophomore Damon Harper, the Huskies’ leading scorer, added ten points. Harrison Stanley made some nice plays, scoring in the paint, on the fast break, and from behind the arc and finished with nine points. Anthony Temple came off the bench and scored eight in the final quarter.
Spain Park now looks ahead to a home game against rival Mountain Brook on Friday night, in a game that will be televised by MY 68. Hewitt-Trussville remains at home to take on Vestavia Hills. Both games are slated for 7:30 p.m.