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The Huntland High School Hornets lost to the Grundy County Yellowjackets 89-86 at home Saturday for their eighth loss of the season.

The Hornets led for a majority of the contest, but the Yellowjackets rallied past them in the fourth quarter after Braylen Phillips and Zeier Golden, Huntland’s leading scorers for the season, both left the game due to injuries.

The Hornets opened the contest with a 20-6 run which was helped along by a trio of 3-pointers from Phillips to give them an early double-digit advantage.

They led 31-15 after one quarter.

The Yellowjackets scored 14 straight points to start the second quarter as they made it a two-point game, but the Hornets built their lead back up to double digits before halftime. Golden left the game with an injury midway through the period after going to the ground on a fast-break opportunity.

Huntland led 52-42 at halftime.

The Yellowjackets ended the third quarter on a 10-3 run to make it a two-possession game. In the midst of that run, Phillips exited the game after he was fouled on a shot and hit the court hard.

The Hornets led 68-63 going into the final period.

Without two of their primary scoring options, the Hornets did what they could to stay in front, but the Yellowjackets tied the score at 78-78 with 3:32 remaining.

The teams proceeded to trade the lead multiple times in the ensuing minutes with a layup from Trace Kilpatrick giving the Hornets an 86-85 advantage with about 20 seconds remaining.

However, the Yellowjackets answered back with a 3-point play to pull back in front by a score of 88-86 with 8.9 seconds left.

The Yellowjackets added one more point on a free throw with 1.5 seconds on the clock after a scoreless Huntland possession, and a half-court shot at the buzzer wouldn’t fall as the Hornets lost by three.

Phillips led the Hornets with 35 points for the game, followed by Lashawn Kimmons with 14 points and Golden with 12. Phillips hit eight 3-pointers in his three quarters of play.

Eli Wiggs scored 10 points, Kilpatrick and Kannon Lafevers scored seven points each, and Cade Limbaugh scored one point.

With the loss, the Hornets moved to 10-8 on the season.

They will next play Tuesday at Moore County High School. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.