DAPHNE, Alabama — Chris Sain’s layup with 45 seconds to go put the Daphne Trojans up for good at Fairhope Tuesday night as DHS took a 44-41 6A Area 3 win over the Pirates.

Daphne trailed by nine 34-25 to start the fourth quarter but tied it 34-34 midway in off a 7-point opening flurry by Preston Hughes while holding FHS scoreless until Lewis Hunter reasserted the Pirates lead 36-34 with 3:14 to go.

“I was proud of the way we stayed with it and didn’t give up,” Daphne head coach Cedric Yelding said. “Our guys showed a lot of heart tonight overcoming that lead. Still we missed too many free throws late in the game and put it away. That’s something we seem to struggle with a lot. We’re going to have to find a way to shoot better free throws. But Fairhope played tough and defended their place like they always do. And overall I feel pretty good about the way we played and it’s always good to get a win in the area.”

The Trojans evened their area record to 1-1 and improved to 5-10 overall. Fairhope fell to 0-1 and 5-10. The game was tied 16-16 at the half and 8-8 after the first quarter. The Pirates had defeated Daphne 44-35 last week in a tournament setting that does not count toward the area record.

Daphne went 8-for-14 at the line. FHS was 4-of-12. Fairhope head coach Andy Ryan said his team played well to build the lead in the third quarter but failed to hold it down the stretch when Daphne stepped up its game on the boards.

“I thought Daphne did a better job of rebounding in the fourth quarter and — honestly — we did not manage the nine-point lead well,” he said. “We needed to do a better job handling the ball with a lead like that. I don’t know if we were aggressive enough against their pressure at times.

“But I’m very proud of our kids. From where we’ve come from to how we’re playing now. I like that. I believe if we get in that situation again, we’ll finish it better. I thought Lewis Hunter played one of his best games since he’s been here and in another situation like tonight I would want the ball in his hands again.”

Trailing 44-41 with 4 seconds to go, Fairhope inbounded from full court to get the ball to Hunter open in the corner for a 3-point try before the buzzer to tie, but the shot rimmed out. it would have been his fifth trey of the game.

Hunter finished with a game-high 25 points. Britton Flowers added nine for the Pirates. Sain led the Trojans with 12 points, Hughes had nine and Bradley Nero seven.

Daphne travels to Robertsdale (15-6) for another Area 3 matchup tonight at 7:30 p.m. Fairhope host Baker (20-2) tonight at 7:30 p.m. The Pirates and Trojans will meet again at Daphne Jan. 31.