Fort Dale Academy’s Jack Bates scored 17 points Friday night in a game against Escambia Academy.

None were bigger than his last two.

With seven seconds left in the game, Bates connected on a pair of free throws to give Fort Dale a one-point lead.

A desperation heave from three-point range by the Cougars missed the mark with less than a second remaining to play giving the Eagles a 52-51 victory.

“I was really proud of Jack for being able to handle the moment and concentrate on the free throws,” FDA head coach Reggie Mantooth said. “That was a pressure situation and he was able to come through.”

Bates finished the game one rebound shy of a double-double. His nine rebounds led the team. He was also 6-of-11 from the field and a perfect 5-of-5 from the free-throw line.

Fort Dale’s Chip Taylor also scored 17 points.

Taylor was 2-for-8 from the field and 3-for-9 from beyond the arc.

Ryan Burkett chipped in seven points for the Eagles on the strength of a 2-for-4 effort from three-point range, while Ryan Salter added five points, three assists and three steals.

Dylan Jones, John Coleman Poole and Michael Padalino each scored two points in the win.

The Eagles dropped a 62-43 decision to Tuscaloosa Academy and former Fort Dale Academy head coach William Johnson on Saturday. The Knights raced out to a 30-11 lead by the close of the first period and led 41-17 by the half.

Bates led Fort Dale with 12 points, while Taylor added 10. Wesley Scott and Burkett scored six points each in the loss.

The Eagles will be back in action Friday when they play the winner of the Tuscaloosa/Escambia showdown in the Class AAA, Region 2 tournament. The game is slated to begin at 4:30 p.m. at Morgan Academy in Selma.