After building an early lead, the Pleasant Home Lady Eagles had to fend off the last minute comeback efforts of the Paxton Lady Bobcats for a 50-49 win Saturday in the Alabama/Florida Shootout at Pleasant Home High School.

It was Paxton who took the first lead of the game, when Genesis Long connected with a 3-pointer.

The Lady Eagles’ first points of the game came when River Baldwin grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back up for a contested bucket.

After a layup from Kristen Corbett put Paxton back up by 3, Baldwin dished the ball down low to Camille Holley, who quickly put it up for two points.

A few minutes later, Baldwin gave the Lady Eagles the lead with a goal under the basket, and was fouled in the process. Baldwin knocked down the free throw to put the Lady Eagles up 7-5.

A layup from Cassidy Godwin, followed by a strong back down move in the lane for a bucket from Baldwin, the Lady Eagles were on top 11-5.

Baldwin continued her strong start with a block and then went coast-to-coast for lay up to give Pleasant Home a 13-5 lead.

Paxton added a basket at the end of the period, but trailed 13-7 heading into the second period.

Paxton started the second period with the first basket, but Godwin answered right back with a midrange jumper to make it 15-9.

Paxton cut the lead down  with a 3-pointer from Katie Sebastian, but Godwin answered right back. This time, Godwin made a great pass to Baldwin who dropped in a layup.

Abby Walker followed with a steal and a layup to put the Lady Eagles up 19-12.

Godwin added a layup to make it 21-12, but Sebastian responded on the other end with another 3-pointer.

The Lady Eagles remained vigilant with four points from Baldwin and one point from Anna Bulger to close out the first halt and give Pleasant Home a 26-15 lead.

Paxton started off the third period with a bucket from Sebastian.

The Lady Eagles continued to fight hard, but Sebastian made a habit of drawing a foul while in the act on shooting. In the third period, Sebastian was 6-of-8 from the charity stripe.

Pleasant Home got points from Baldwin, Godwin, Holley and Taylor Catoe to keep to out front 37-30 heading into the final period.

Sebastian continued to find herself at the free-throw line, going 9-for-10 in the final period. With just more than a minute remaining in the game, Sebastian buried a 3-pointer to put Paxton on top 47-46.

Baldwin then hit a jumper and a free throw from Holley put the Lady Eagles up 49-47 with 20 seconds left in the game.

Sebastian drove the ball down the other end of the court for Paxton and dropped in a contested jumper. Sebastian was fouled in the process, but missed on the foul shot leaving the score 49-49 with 14 seconds left.

The Lady Eagles fired up a shot from the corner that just missed the mark, but Baldwin went up high for the offensive rebound and was fouled as she tried to get off a shot.

With 0.6 seconds left on the clock, Baldwin missed the first free throw shot, but connected on the second to give the Lady Eagles a 50-49 win.

Sebastian led Paxton with 32 points in the loss.

Baldwin led the way for the Lady Eagles with 29 points, 9 blocks and 7 rebounds.