Top-ranked Class 7A Huntsville lost its first game since November and its first at home in the past 31 games when Bartlett, Tenn., visited Monday night and left with a 58-55 win. Huntsville had won 23 straight before the setback.

Bartlett improved to 21-2 on the season with its fifth straight win while Huntsville dropped to 26-2 – with both losses coming from out-of-state foes. Huntsville is 7-1 in games decided by 10 points or fewer this season.

“What a game for both teams,” Huntsville coach Christian Schweers said. “I am so proud of our team for their resilience to overcome adversity in this game. I have a ton of respect for Bartlett and their program. They are talented, they compete, do things the right way and we needed this game.

“You never want to lose, but if you are a competitor at all and you are keeping the big picture in mind – you have to play this game when it becomes available. We will be better for it in the long run.”

Huntsville had scheduled the game against the nation’s No. 65 team – according to MaxPreps rankings – last week after the cancellation of games against Kell, Ga., and Pinson Valley due to the winter storm. Huntsville was ranked No. 9 headed into the contest.

A big second quarter proved to be the difference for the visitors from just outside Memphis. Trailing 16-10 after one quarter, Bartlett outscored Huntsville 15-5 for a 25-21 halftime lead. Bartlett, also nicknamed Panthers, carried a 44-35 advantage into the final period.

Huntsville chipped away at the lead and got within 53-51 with 45 seconds left in the game on a JD Gossett layup. King answered with a driving layup and hit a free throw for a 3-point play to give the visitors a cushion. Gossett hit a short turnaround jumper to make it 56-53 with 20 seconds to play, but Bartlett closed it out with free throws.

R’chaun King, a 6-foot-7, 220-pound Arkansas State signee, did the most damage for the winners. King scored 23 points with 7-for-7 shooting from the floor and 9-for-9 from the foul line. Senior teammate Christian Alston, who has signed with Abilene Christian, scored 19, going 7-for-10 from the field.

Senior Samford University signee Caleb Harrison scored 17 for Huntsville, hitting 7-for-11 from the floor, including 2-for-5 on 3-point attempts. The 6-10 Harrison grabbed 7 rebounds and had 5 assists. Gossett, a 6-5 junior guard, scored 16 for Huntsville. He was 5-for-9 from the floor and 6-for-6 on free throws and had 5 rebounds.

Simon Walker and Josh Bowman scored 9 points apiece in the loss.

Huntsville made 46 percent of its field-goal attempts, 3-of-15 on 3-point tries. The home team hit 18-of-23 from the foul line. Huntsville was outrebounded 21-18 and had 14 turnovers to 18 for Bartlett. The winners made 53 percent of their shots, 2-of-8 on 3-pointers. Bartlett made 18-of-22 from the free-throw line.

Huntsville’s last home loss was on Nov. 21, 2021, to Lee-Huntsville.

Huntsville plays at Sparkman on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. and will host Geraldine at 7 p.m. Thursday to wrap up the regular season. Huntsville hosts the 7A, Area 7 tournament beginning Feb. 6.