DECATUR – Four 3-pointers in the first seven minutes of play were not enough to spark Hartselle in the opening round of the Decatur Orthopaedic Clinic Invitational Monday afternoon.
Spain Park made 10 three-pointers to break open a close game to claim a 54-48 victory over the Lady Tigers.
The loss sent Hartselle to the loser’s bracket where the Lady Tigers were scheduled to face Tanner in a Tuesday morning game.
Spain Park’s Colby Ryan led all scorers with 20 points after she hit four of her 10 three-point shots in the win.
Katheryn Boswell and Jessica Freeman added 10 points each for the Jaguars.
Spain Park outrebounded Hartselle 36-30.
Hartselle’s Kanesia Elliott led the Lady Tigers with 14 points. Quanesha Burk added 11 points and Maci Gassaway finished with 10 points.
Hartselle led 26-23 at the half before Spain Park tied the game at 40 with a 17-point third quarter.
Whitney Gulledge and Freeman hit 3-pointers in the first two minutes of the fourth quarter to give the Jaguars a lead they would not relinquish.
Elliott had a couple of buckets that followed Spain Park’s 3-pointers to trim the Jaguars’ lead to 48-44.
Gulledge had seven of her nine points in the fourth quarter to help Spain Park hold off the Lady Tigers.
Hartselle managed to close the gap to 48-45 with 3:33 remaining in the game on a free throw by Burk. However, the Lady Tigers never got any closer.
Hartselle’s Sarah Horner and Gassaway had two 3-pointers each. Elliott and Burk both added a 3-pointer.
Hartselle shot 32 percent from the floor after hitting five of 12 treys in the first half.