Bragging rights were on the line Jan. 30, as the Jemison Panthers and Chilton County Tigers boys and girls basketball teams squared off in rivalry games in Clanton.

In the girls’ contest, a defensive struggle between the two rivals turned into a big win for the Panthers, as the squad took down Chilton County, 41-28.

Taylor Ray led the Panthers with 11 points, while Laura Vinzant had eight.

Lexis Blackman had 14 points for Chilton County, while Kaley Lucas had six.

In the boys’ contest, the two teams played close throughout the first two quarters of play, but the Panthers controlled the second half and took a 72-61 win.

The two teams battled back and forth to open the contest, with Jemison taking a 6-4 lead early on a two-pointer by Shun Strong.

Tremon Bryant followed by burying a three-pointer for the Panthers, with Chilton County’s Cade Hatch adding a pair of free throws and Garrett Strength adding a basket to bring the Tigers to within three at 11-8.

Back-to-back baskets by Bryant started an 8-2 run for Jemison, with the lone Chilton County basket coming from JaQuaries Martin.

Strong capped off the run with a two-pointer, ending the quarter with the Panthers up, 18-10.

Devin Austin opened the second with a free throw for the Tigers, kicking off a 5-4 run for CCHS, as Damon Wilson and Donte Davis each added baskets to cut the lead to 22-15 in favor of Jemison.

Strong added a basket for the Panthers with 3:15 left in the half, with Bryant adding another three-pointer to boost the Panthers to a 27-15 lead with 2:45 to go in the second.

After a basket by Hatch, the Tigers’ offense came to life, as they closed the half on an 8-2 run, with a basket by Strength, a pair of free throws and a basket by Austin with 30 seconds left to close the gap to 27-25.

Shawn Poe hit a two-pointer for the Panthers to close out the half, with Jemison taking a 29-25 lead into halftime.

Austin again started the quarter by a free throw to cut the lead to three, but the Panthers took control of the game with a 9-2 run courtesy of baskets by Cody Thompson, Strong and Poe, with the lone Tigers basket coming from Keishun White.

Hatch stopped the streak with a three-pointer, but Trevonte Brown responded with two three-pointers to give the Panthers a 44-31 lead with 4:45 left in the third.

Another Panther three-pointer by Mason Jones opened a 47-33 lead with 3:15 to go, with Austyn Ray responding with a basket.

The two squads battled to a 6-6 draw for the rest of the quarter, leaving Jemison up 53-41 headed into the final period.

White led the fourth off with a basket, with Strong adding a pair of free throws to keep the Panthers’ lead at 11.

A pair of Bryant free throws and subsequent basket boosted the lead to 59-45 lead, but a Hatch three-pointer with 3:48 to go cut the lead to 11.

Up 59-48, the Panthers went on a 4-0 run, with the Tigers countering with a pair of three-pointers by Tyler Henderson and Hatch, along with a basket by Hatch, closing the gap to 63-56.

A pair of Poe free throws gave the Panthers a 65-56 lead with 2:26 to go, and the Panthers held on down the stretch to take the 72-61 win.

Tremon Bryant led the Panthers with 19, while Shun Strong had 14.

Cade Hatch had 22 points for the Tigers, while Devin Austin had 12.