Andalusia’s varsity boys’ basketball team (2-1) held off Opp (1-2) in the final minutes of Friday night’s contest for a 72-63 home victory.

Both squads came out attacking on all cylinders in the opening period.

Devontae Williams got the Bobcats on the board first after he knocked down a pair of free throws just 14 seconds into the game.

The Bulldogs quickly answered back with short-range jumper from Alex Sheridan to tie it up.

Opp went down on their next possession and got a 3-pointer from Ty White to give the Bobcats a 5-2 lead.

Andalusia answered right back with a fade-away jumper from Ke’Shun Townsend.

Four straight points from Williams and a layup from Orlando Lacey gave the Bobcats an 11-4 lead.

Trevor Parker then made a strong drive to basket for a layup to end the Bobcats 6-0 run.

On the other end of the court, Andalusia’s Ian Peek came up with a big block and then drained a long jumper to cut the lead down to 11-9.

Opp got another basket from White and then back-to-back baskets from Andalusia’s Jaden Brown and Zack Woods tied the game 13-13 heading into the second period.

Andalusia got their first lead of the game at the start of the second period when B.J. Anderson converted a fastbreak-layup to put the Bulldogs up 15-13.

The lead went back-and-forth over the next several minutes with Anderson, Parker and Williams trading baskets.

The Bulldogs’ lead began climbing when Jaxon Rudolph dropped in a layup off an assist from Parker.

Peek then popped a mid-range turnaround jumper to but the Bulldogs up 27-23.

Williams cut the led back down to two with a layup.

Parker followed with a 3-pointer to put Andalusia up 31-27 with 50 seconds left before halftime.

Another basket from Parker and a free throw from Anderson put Andalusia up 34-27 at halftime.

Anderson got the third period started with a bunny hop layup after driving hard into the lane to put the Bulldogs up 36-27.

Opp responded with a fastbreak score from White.

Another free throw from Anderson and a basket from Woods gave the Bulldogs a 10-point advantage early in the third period.

Sheridan then stuck a soft jumper from about six feet away and a layup from Parker off an assist from Woods gave the Bulldogs a 13-point lead.

The Bobcats weren’t about to give up and Williams took complete control over the game for Opp in the in the final minutes of the third period.

Williams’s aggressive play near the basket led to him drawing several fouls and hit 6-of-7 free throws in the final two minutes of the third period to leave the Bobcats trailing 49-44 heading into the final frame.

Williams finished the third period with 12 points for the Bobcats.

Williams and Lacey got the Bobcats rolling to start the fourth period and quickly cut the Bulldog lead down to one.

Anderson then pulled down an offensive rebound and put it back in to push the lead back up to three, but the Bobcats continued to attack.

Reggie Thompson hit the front end of a 1-and-1 and then Williams was fouled as he knocked down a put back jumper.

Williams knocked down the and-one opportunity to put Opp up 52-51 with just under six minutes to play.

Anderson was fouled on the Bulldogs’ next possession and proceeded to hit both free throws to put Andalusia back on top.

It was then Williams turn to display his skills once again.

Williams was fouled as he drained bucket and completed an old-fashioned 3-point play with the successful free throw.

After creating a turnover on the other end, Williams was again fouled and went to the line to shoot two.

The first shot went in-and-out, but the second shot found it’s mark to give the Bobcats a 56-53 lead with 5:07 left.

Andalusia cut into the lead when Parker found Rudolph under the basket for an easy score.

After an Opp layup, Anderson cut the lead back to one point with a pair of made free throws.

The Bobcats followed with a 3-pointer to go on top 61-57.

A quick layup from Parker and then another pair of successful free throws from Anderson tied the game 61-61 with 3:27 left to play.

Opp went back on top after a turnaround jumper from White, but Anderson dropped in two more free throws to tie the game 63-63 with 2:31 left.

Thirty seconds later, Parker spun through traffic and dropped in a smooth-as-silk jumper to put Andalusia up 65-63.

Anderson got another free throw, Peek added two free throws and Rudolph finished the game with a layup to give the Bulldogs a 72-63 win.

Williams led the Bobcats and all other scorers with 34 points. White and Lacey each finished with 11 points.

“I’m always proud of these young men,” Opp head coach Willie Edwards said. “They gave it 110 percent tonight and that is all I ask of them. I just want them to be excited to play and bring in a good attitude.”

Anderson led the Bulldogs in scoring with 26 points and Parker finished with 21 points.

“It was a good night,” Andalusia head coach Marshall Locke said. “We still have a lot of things that we have to polish, but we have only been all together for about a week. We have to get better, but that will come with time. Our senior leadership stepped up at the end. Hats off to Coach Edwards and to Opp, though, they did a great job and never quit even when we got up on them.”

Andalusia will be back in action on Tuesday when they travel to Georgiana.

Opp will travel to Daleville on Tuesday for their next contest.