Hartselle’s IRC players, cheerleaders and Tiger Buddies dance to music as a halftime feature of Thursday’s home game against James Clemons. | Clif Knight

Hartselle High School’s IRC basketball team hosted the James Clemens Jets in their first home basketball game on Thursday, losing 36-26 in a hard-fought contest that wasn’t decided until the final two minutes of the game.

Earlier in the week, the Tigers defeated James Clemons on the road for their first win of the season.

The Tigers were down 8-3 after one period, 16-9 at halftime and 25-17 after three periods. However, they made a 4-0 run at the start of the final period and pulled to within four points, 25-21, with two minutes to play.

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Michael Addie scored nine points to pace the Tigers in scoring. Dillon Hall followed with six points, James Horner had five, and Bryan Payton, Cheyenne Stapleton and Jacquez Robinson each had two points.

Other Hartselle players were David Barrios, Seth Battles, Larry Byrd, Brittani Crumley, Brianna Dempsey, Kane Etheredge, Breanna McDonald, D.J. Truluck and Lyndon Wolfe.

Haley Copeland and Alyssa Letson were cheerleaders.

A longer than usual halftime was observed as Hartselle’s players and Tiger Buddies demonstrated a dance routine with the aid of taped music.