DAPHNE, Alabama — Daphne senior Chris Sain hit back-to-back free throws with 10.5 seconds left in regulation to give the Daphne Trojans a 3-point lead and a 54-51, 6A Area 3, win over visiting Fairhope Tuesday night. The Pirates got off a last-second, hurried 3-point attempt to tie but the shot was off the rim.

“It seems like every time we play Fairhope, it’s a game like this—All out,” said Daphne head coach Cedric Yelding. “No matter where we play, here, there or in a tournament somewhere, Daphne and Fairhope always find a way to make it close. I’m proud of my guys. They played hard, kept us out front most of the game.”

The Trojans (10-7, 3-0) held an 11-point lead at the half (32-19) but led just 40-36 after three periods. A Fairhope (7-11, 0-3) offensive surge led by Rushing Watson, a 3-point play by Nate Andrews and a bucket by Ernest Andrews in the early minutes of the second half swung the lead in the Pirates favor, 43-42.

Fairhope head coach Robbie Robertson was disappointed the rally fell short.

“We had our chances and we did a good job getting back in it in the third and coming back to take the lead, but we didn’t finish strong enough and Daphne did,” he said. “But we are playing better. Playing a bunch of games over the Christmas Holidays helped us get our legs back. We still need to learn how to win these close games. We’ve kept most of our games close and only a couple really got away from us. But we can’t keep coming up short on these big games. We are improving, but we need to improve more and our goal is to be tournament ready by the beginning of February. These guys give it all and when guys play with this much heart, eventually, good things start to come their way. Nate’s little brother, Ernest, has given us a real boost. He’s always around the ball and he works well with the other players. So we’re hoping it will all keep coming together for us.”

Nate Andrews led all players with the game-high of 21 points, Watson and Britton Flowers added eight each and Ernest Andrews finished with seven. Sain led the Trojans with 13 points, Davis added 11 while Kareem Brown, Donovan Dale and Devonte Young had six each.

The Trojans regained the momentum after the Pirates 43-42 swing when DHS rebound leader, Young, scored a 3-point foul shot and put-back combination to make it 45-43. Watson tied it at 45-all by calmly hitting both ends of a 1-and-1. But Sain countered with a long-range trey and Bradley Nero sank a short jumper while FHS missed on back-back scoring attempts.

Ronnie Davis sandwiched a layup for DHS in between two scores by Nate Andrews. Ernest Andrews then added a free throw to set up the 52-51 situation with 14.1 seconds to go.

Yelding said it’s always good to get a win, especially an area win, but he sees some aspects of play his team needs to work on.

“I’m proud they didn’t quit when Fairhope came back but we have to do a better job of handling, managing, a lead. We were up 11 points at halftime. But we came out so flat in the third quarter, like it was over. It’s not over no matter how big a lead you have or how far back you are as long as there’s time on that clock. We should have come out more aggressively in the second half. Especially against a team we know so well with players like Rushing Watson and Nate Andrews who can score a lot in a hurry. So, I hope my guys are beginning to see and understand how important it is to never let up even when you have a lead.”

DHS will host Robertsdale at 7:30 p.m. Friday and travel to Baldwin County High in Bay Minette Jan. 15 also at 7:30 p.m. The Pirates will travel to Tate High School, (Fla.) Friday night at 7:30 p.m. and will host Robertsdale High Jan. 15 in a 6A Area 3 showdown at 7:30 p.m.