HANCEVILLE – Cullman played hard against Spain Park Tuesday night in the Buffalo Wild Wings Christmas Challenge, but could not overcome the Jaguars' athleticism and the play of Jamal Johnson.
Johnson was a highlight reel several times throughout the game, scoring 27 points to lead Spain Park to a 72-57 victory in the third-place game of the Boneless Bracket at Tom Drake Coliseum.
Cullman hung with the Jaguars, down just 23-22 with 5:41 to go in the opening half after Dylan Finch knocked down a pair of free throws for the Bearcats.
Then Johnson broke loose with six consecutive points to extend the Spain Park margin to 29-22 and less than two minutes later, he scored on a fast break that gave the team from the Hoover area a 33-22 advantage.
Cullman never overcame the situation from that point on, trailing 36-26 at the half.
Things went from bad to worse for the Bearcats to begin the third period on offense. Cullman experienced a shooting drought, not getting a shot to fall until Jayden Sullins scored with 3:29 to play in the quarter. At that time, the Jaguars had raised the margin to 47-30 and seemed to be in cruise control.
The largest lead of the game took place with 2:44 to go in the third when the Jaguars got a field goal and led 54-31. Spain Park's lead was at 61-40 when the quarter came to a close.
Cullman battled on, getting four straight baskets from three-point range with Noah Bussman, Nick Williams, Jacob McAfee and William Franey finding the range to pull the Bearcats within 12 at 65-54 at the 3:33 mark.
But a three-point play from Warren Kidd with 2:37 to play created breathing room for the Jaguars as they led 70-55.
Cullman's final points came on free throws with less than a minute left by Williams. The Bearcats were 0-2 in the inaugural classic and dropped to 6-9 for the season. Spain Park broke a three-game losing streak and evened its record to 3-3.
Johnson had 27 for the Jaguars, scoring 16 in the second half, 10 in the third quarter of a 25-14 run.
Williams had 10 to guide the scoring for Bobby Meyer's Bearcats with Finch hitting eight, Franey, Reese Harbison and Drew Morton six each, McAfee and Zane Manley five each, Sullins four. Trey Tucker and Bussman had three each and Fletcher Jennings two.
The championship of the Boneless Bracket was captured by Madison Academy in a 67-55 triumph over James Clemens.
Madison Academy, No. 3 in the 4A state rankings, is 7-4 after beating their rival from the Madison area at a neutral site, while James Clemens dropped to 6-5.
The inaugural Wild Wings Challenge consisted of 23 varsity teams and two varsity girls’ teams, and kicked off at the Coliseum last Thursday. Seventeen games made up the event, which pleased Wallace State coach John Meeks, who saw plenty of good teams and talented prep players play at one of the best venues for the sport of basketball.
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