Staff Reports

CEDAR BLUFF – The Spring Garden Panthers rallied from an early nine-point first-quarter deficit to take a 56-52 area basketball win at Cedar Bluff on Thursday night.

John Welsh led the charge for the fifth-ranked Panthers (6-2, 4-0) with 20 points. Jon Marq Rogers sank a pair of 3-pointers and had 12 points. Connor Bates contributed eight points. Jake Welsh and Cam Welsh finished with seven and six points respectively.

MJ Adams topped No. 9 Cedar Bluff (6-2, 3-1) with 18 points. Bucky Leek delivered 12 points. Eli McFry scored nine points, all on 3-pointers. Caleb Tucker finished with five points.

Cedar Bluff jumped out to a 21-12 first-quarter advantage, but the Panthers managed to tie things up at halftime, 34-34. Spring Garden took a 43-42 lead into the fourth quarter and held on for the win.

Both teams play in the Cherokee Invitational at Cedar Bluff on Saturday. Spring Garden battles Sand Rock at 4:30 p.m. Cedar Bluff takes on Talladega County Central at 7:30 p.m.