DAPHNE, Alabama — The Bayside Academy Admirals took their first area loss of the season at home Friday to the No.1-ranked 3A team in the state before an energetic, overflow crowd. The Clarke County High Bulldogs improved to 15-1 with the 53-45 road win while remaining undefeated in 3A Area 1 at 4-0. The Admirals fell to 4-1 in league play and 11-8 overall.

“They are ranked number one in the state for a reason,” Bayside head coach Ralph Watson said. “They are 15-1 and you just saw why. CorDerrio Hasewood, number 11, and Jamal Harris (24) are two of the best high-school basketball players around, They just make big plays when the game is on the line. They can score, beat you off the dribble, hit for three. They are very athletic and can elevate to block shots and simply play at a high level from start to finish. The team goes as they go and they are having a great year. And they are also really great kids and I respect coach Davis for how he manages their ability and keeps them focused.”

Hasewood and Harris combined for all but seven of the Bulldogs’ score. Bayside trailed by 11 points 29-18 at the half but battled back with a 16-11 scoring run through the third quarter. The rally continued into the final period until after Geoffrey Stinebaugh’s 3-pointer brought the Admirals to within two points (43-41) with about three minutes to go. CCHS then countered with a 10-4 run keyed by a pair of back-to-back offensive put backs and a Bayside turnover. Watson was still happy with his players’ effort overall.

“I’m very proud of our guys. It was a big game and the crowd was great. It was a fun, highly competitive contest and atmosphere. I’m pleased with the way we hung with them and challenged them most of the night. We just failed to execute well in the last two, really the last two-and-a-half, minutes. We had some breakdowns and that kind of let them slip away after we came back that last time. We were behind 45-41 and had a great drive to the rim but turned it over. And then they made some big plays. But hopefully this will make us better. We just got beat by a good team. We shot five free throws, they shot 18 and that’s huge because those are free points.”

Both teams were 60 percent at the line but the Bulldogs got more than three times as many trips. Bayside made 3-of-5 while CCHS was 11-for-18. Dakota Brodie led the Admirals with 14 points, Stinebaugh finished with 10, Nelson Newman added nine and Grahm Barnard eight. Hasewood had 27 and Harris 19 for CCHS.

Bayside hosts 6A Alma Bryant tonight (Tuesday) at 7:30 p.m. and host 6A Foley Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Bayside’s remaining 3A Area 1 schedule has them on the road at TR Miller in Brewton Jan. 24 and at CCHS in Grove Hill Jan. 27. The Admirals then host Miller to close out the area run Jan. 28.