The boys of Alba-Golden have played a tough schedule this basketball season, and winning has not come easily. Last Tuesday was no exception when the Panthers hosted Hawkins, but they pulled out a win over the Hawks, 50-48.

Crisp passing by Alba-Golden around the perimeter opened up the lane and gave outside shooters some good looks.

They struggled on the defensive boards early, allowing the Hawks too many opportunities to score, and fell behind 14-10 after a quarter.

The Panthers came out quickly in the second quarter, rattling off eight straight points, capped by a steal and score by Gavin Parker.

The scoring dried up for Alba-Golden, not scoring for nearly five more minutes, courtesy of a three-pointer at the buzzer by Braydon Randolph to pull within three at the break, down 24-21.

The Panthers opened the second half hot once more, scoring 11 straight on three deep balls.

Hawkins reigned them back in, taking a 36-35 lead before Gavin Dailey put Alba-Golden back on top in the waning seconds of the period.

The Panthers opened the final frame with some solid defense, not allowing the Hawks to get off a good look for 30 seconds.

The score remained tight, with neither team gaining more than a three-point advantage in the last eight minutes.

Blake Weissert and Jaden Barnhart both drew key charges down the stretch to regain possession.

Dailey was clutch in the last minute, scoring Alba-Golden’s final two buckets to pull ahead.

With 13.46 seconds left the Panthers went up 50-48 and the Hawks called timeout.

After picking them up at half court on defense for the entire game, Alba-Golden showed Hawkins a full-court press for the first time on their final possession, and forced a turnover with two second remaining to clinch the win.

Randolph led scoring with 22 points, making five threes. Dailey added 15, inlcuding eight in the fourth. Weissert scored five, Luke Morrison and Barnhart each hit threes, and Parker had a bucket.