Andalusia had several opportunities to tie the game up and take the lead on Friday night against Hillcrest-Evergreen, but the Bulldogs couldn’t find the shots and turned the ball over to help the Jaguars take a 60-56 victory 33 miles west on Highway 84.

The Bulldogs trailed 58-56 with 1:04 left in the fourth period, and senior guard Jacard Townsend had a shot to the basket, but was denied.

Then, with less than 42 seconds on the clock, Andalusia’s Sam Byrd drew an intentional foul and missed both free throws.

After an Jaguars’ guard Demetrius Likely was helped off the court and a missed free throw, with less than 30 seconds left, Andalusia’s Joe Flowers made a pass to Niguel Jones, but the ball skipped out of bounds for a Jaguars possession.

Lakelyus “Fathead” Adams then got the steal on the inbounds play, passed the ball to Townsend where he missed, Jones got the rebound and missed the put back to give HHS possession going the other way.

Roger Savage then got fouled for the Jaguars, missed his one-and-one and then found himself back on the free-throw line, where he made the game-sealing free throws.

The Jaguars went ahead 58-55 on the front-end of a pair of free throws from forward Barry Smith (who led HHS with 28 points).

Andalusia brought the game to 58-56 after a time out and a Flowers front-end free throw.

With this loss, the Bulldogs fall to 8-6 on the season, and are 0-2 against the Jaguars this calendar year. Andalusia fell to HHS in the South Regional finals in February at USA Mitchell Center in Mobile.

“They didn’t lay down,” AHS head boys basketball coach Richard Robertson said about his team. “They fought hard until the end. It’s hard for us to overcome the opponent and ourselves, too. That’s what we’re trying to do.

“We fought hard to get back, but then we missed clutch shots and turned the ball over,” he said.

AHS will play host to Houston Academy today in more regular-season action. The B-team will tip off at 4 p.m.

Andalusia never took the lead in Friday night’s contest, trailing 24-11 after the first period and 38-28 at half time.

The Bulldogs trailed as much as 22-5 with 2:28 in the first period. Savage hit three 3-pointers alone in the opening period to give his team the 17-point lead.

The Bulldogs’ best performance came in the third period.

AHS came out and after a quick 4-0 run, trailed 38-32 at the start.

Barry Smith got a jumper and cut the Jags’ lead back to 40-32.

Andalusia got to within four at 42-38 on an inbound play from Townsend to Byrd.

Prince then made a jumper after a Barry Smith pair of free throws to go up 44-38 on an AHS turn over.

The Bulldogs trailed 51-43 after the third period, and trailed 55-45 a few minutes into the fourth.

AHS went on a 4-0 run mid-way through the final period to get to 57-55 with 3:33 left on a drive from Flowers.

Byrd led the Bulldogs with 21 points; Townsend added 20 points and seven steals; and Jones had nine rebounds.

Savage had 18 points, and Baron Smith chipped in 11 for the Jaguars.

In B-team action, Andalusia beat Hillcrest-Evergreen 52-42.

AHS girls 57, HHS girls 34

Andalusia’s Shi’Amber Townsend led the Lady Bulldogs with 20 points. Alexis Horton added 15 points and Alectricia Barnes chipped in 12.

The Lady Bulldogs led 16-9 after the first period, and 38-15 at half time after a solid defensive effort in the second period.

AHS outscored the Lady Jags 16-6 in the third period.

“They really picked up their defensive effort in the second (period),” AHS head girls basketball coach Bennie Shellhouse said. “We did a good job not making stupid fouls.”