By Ross Johnson

Sports Writer

It was in hand until the final minute.

In their home opener Tuesday against Region 5-AA foe Spencer, the Callaway Cavaliers held at least a five-point lead for the entire game leading up to the final minute.

But a resilient Greenwave squad hung tough, with a 3-pointer and two clutch free throws from Spencer’s Damian Brown handing Callaway its first region setback of the season in a 55-52 loss.

“The guys got out of sync, out of rhythm,” said head coach Greg Moultrie. “We got away from the system in the last five minutes.”

Also Tuesday, the Lady Cavaliers fought hard in a 49-38 loss to Spencer.

The boys jumped out to a 21-4 lead in the first quarter, but allowed Spencer to go on a 13-2 run and made it a nine-point game at halftime.

The Greenwave quickly cut the Cavaliers’ lead to five minutes into the third quarter, but Callaway didn’t let Spencer get any closer until the final minute of the game.

Leading 51-47 with 57 seconds left, Callaway surrendered its lead when Brown hit a 3-pointer and made two free throws within 20 seconds, giving Spencer its first lead of the game.

Callaway senior Quantavius Leslie was fouled near the basket with 23 seconds left, and he made one free throw to tie it at 51-51.

Brown was fouled again on the Greenwave’s ensuing possession.

He made one free throw and missed the second, but allowed Terrance Dennis to rebound the ball and make a layup to give Spencer a three-point lead.

Leslie’s desperation shot as time expired was too high, and the Greenwave moved to 2-0 in region play.

Leslie finished with 11 points, Quan Bray had 16 and Terrance Jackson scored 11.

Callaway’s loss is its second in a row and dropped the Cavaliers to 2-1 in region play.

Moultrie said a lack of confidence in each other led to the team’s late breakdown.

“We didn’t have enough ball movement and we didn’t have enough confidence in the other man,” Moultrie said. “We have to trust each other. We have to learn to trust our teammates.”

The Lady Cavaliers almost pulled a comeback of their own.

Trailing by 21 midway through the third quarter, Callaway (0-4) pulled within six points with less than two minutes to play on layups from Peyton Pearson and Keela Rutledge.

The game could have been even closer at that point, but missed layups and free throws allowed Spencer to cling to an 11-point lead throughout most of the fourth quarter.

The Lady Cavaliers were just 6-of-20 from the foul line.

The Lady Greenwave ultimately made two layups with less than a minute to win the game.

Lisa Jones led Callaway with 16 points, followed by Pearson with 10.

Callaway head coach Michael Fannin was glad to see his team improve, but knows his team still needs work on their fundamentals.

“From last Tuesday until this Tuesday, every game we’ve gotten better,” Fannin said. “I’m pleased with that, but we’re still fighting for the win. We’re still looking for it.”