By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

The Callaway Cavaliers went toe-to-toe with a strong Spencer team on Friday, only to come up short 74-62.

Callaway was within a point with less than three minutes to play, but Spencer closed the game on an 11-0 run.

It was nonetheless a strong showing for Callaway against a Spencer team that is now 11-3 overall, and 3-0 in Region 5-AA.

Callaway (3-8 overall) fell to 3-1 in the region.

The Cavaliers climbed within a point on an Antinez Blount basket with 2:40 remaining, but they didn’t score again.

Duke Simpson led Callaway with 14 points, and Demetrius Coleman and Javontay Boddie had 12 points apiece.

Blount added 10 points, and Jalin Shephard contributed nine points.

The Cavaliers were up 20-19 after the first quarter, and they were ahead 33-31 at the half.

In the third quarter, Spencer led by as many as six points, but Callaway got within one when Simpson made three free throws with 15 seconds left in the period.

Rassan Rhodes knocked down a 3-pointer at the third-quarter buzzer to give Spencer a 53-49 lead.

Spencer appeared to be in control after taking a seven-point lead midway through the fourth quarter, but Callaway kept fighting.

When Coleman made two free throws with 3:20 to play, Spencer’s lead was down to 61-60.

After Spencer went back up by three, Blount scored to make it a one-point game once again, but Callaway went cold from there and didn’t score again.

Callaway will take a break from region play to host Manchester today, with tip-off set for 4:30 p.m.

Callaway’s next region game will be at home against Bremen on Tuesday.