The Spalding High Lady Jaguars basketball team rallied from 17 points down in the fourth quarter, but came up short in the end and fell to the Walton Lady Raiders 56-55 Saturday evening in non-region action at SHS.

Spalding drops to 3-2 overall with the loss while Class AAAAAA team Walton remains perfect at 2-0.

“I’m proud of the girls. They came back from a huge deficit and showed some heart and growth,” said Spalding head coach Chad Hubbard. “The home crowd got behind the girls and spurred them on; we just came up one point short.”

Walton led throughout the game, winning 17-6 after the first quarter, 27-17 at halftime and 41-24 heading into the fourth quarter. Hubbard challenged the Lady Jags at the start of the fourth and they responded, going on a big run to climb back into the game. Unfortunately for the Lady Jags, the iron was unkind to them at the free-throw line again, as they missed 14 free throws Saturday after missing 16 against Locust Grove in their home opener on Nov. 27.

Despite the missed free throws, Spalding had a chance to win the game with six seconds left in the contest, but Twandalette Cotton’s layup attempt fell short as the final buzzer sounded. Cotton led Spalding with 20 points and 9 rebounds and Desiree Corbin notched her 3rd straight double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds. Shaquoria Reid chipped in 8 points for Spalding, which travels to face Eagle’s Landing in Region 4-AAAA crossover action today at 6 p.m.

Walton 88, Spalding 68 (boys): The Spalding High Jaguars basketball team trailed the Walton Raiders the entire game, dropping its first game of the year 88-68 Saturday night to Walton in non-region action at home.

“It was good that we played some stiff competition in Walton. It will prepare us for the second half of the year,” said Jags head coach Kemo Spear.

Spalding (2-1) trailed 24-10 in the first quarter, 42-28 at halftime and 71-49 heading into the fourth quarter.

Markee Dickerson led the Jags with 16 points, Jequarrian Berry and Omari O’Neal added 10 each and Phillip Goodrum, Alex Bonner and Stephen Thrash chipped in 8 points apiece. Rico Overall led the Raiders with 27 points and 6 assists, C.J. Wingate scored 18 and Maurice Gibson chipped in 17 for Walton (2-0).

Spalding travels to face Eagle’s Landing in Region 4-AAAA crossover action today at 7:30 p.m.

SPALDING BOYS

Date |Opponent |Time/Score

11/24 |Jackson |W 58-44

11/27 |L. GROVE* |W 69-28

12/1 |WALTON |L 88-68

12/4 |E. Landing* |7:30

12/7 |WOODLAND* |8:30

12/11 |DUTCHTOWN* |7:30

12/14 |Walton |7:30

12/22 |Newnan |3:30

12/27 |Meriw Tour |TBA

12/28 |Meriw Tour |TBA

12/29 |Meriw Tour |TBA

1/4 |Riverdale* |7:30

1/5 |TRI-CITIES |4:30

1/8 |JONESBORO* |7:30

1/11 |Griffin* |8:30

1/12 |Stockbridge* |8:30

1/15 |N. Clayton* |7:30

1/18 |UPSON-LEE* |7:30

1/22 |RIVERDALE* |7:30

1/25 |Jonesboro* |7:30

1/26 |GRIFFIN* |7:30

2/1 |N. CLAYTON* |7:30

2/5 |Upson-Lee* |7:30

*Region 4-AAAA games

Home games in CAPS

SPALDING HIGH GIRLS

Date |Opponent |Time/Score

11/16 |vs. S. Atlanta |L 57-52

11/17 |vs. C. King |W 58-24

11/24 |Jackson |W 59-39

11/27 | L. GROVE* |W 53-35

12/1 |WALTON |L 56-55

12/4 |E. Landing* |6:00

12/7 |WOODLAND* |7:00

12/11 |DUTCHTOWN* |6:00

12/14 |Walton |6:00

12/22 |Newnan |2:00

12/27 |Meriw Tour |TBA

12/28 |Meriw Tour |TBA

12/29 |Meriw Tour |TBA

1/4 |Riverdale* |6:00

1/5 |TRI-CITIES |3:00

1/8 |JONESBORO* |6:00

1/11 |Griffin* |7:00

1/12 |Stockbridge* |7:00

1/15 |N. Clayton* |6:00

1/18 |UPSON-LEE* |6:00

1/22 |RIVERDALE* |6:00

1/25 |Jonesboro* |6:00

1/26 |GRIFFIN* |6:00

2/1 |N. CLAYTON* |6:00

2/5 |Upson-Lee* |6:00

*Region 4-AAAA games

Home games in CAPS