JACKSON — The Spalding High Jaguars boys basketball team got balanced scoring and used that to overtake the Jackson Red Devils 58-44 in non-region action on the road Saturday night, giving Kemo Spear a victory in his head-coaching debut.

The Jags (1-0) wasted no time in getting their season-opening win, racing to an 18-3 first-quarter lead and never looking back. The Jags led 33-15 at halftime and 42-34 at the end of three quarters.

“We looked good in some spurts, not-so-good in others. We executed well at times and we really did well on the defensive end,” said Spear, the former Griffin High assistant who’s replacing one-year Spalding head coach Terry White. “I’m proud of the guys — they played well and we won the game.”

It’s a good start for the Jags, who began the year 0-7 last season.

Jequarrian Berry, Stephen Thrash and Alex Bonner each tallied 10 points and Markee Dickerson chipped in 7 for Spalding, which hosts Region 4-AAAA Division A foe Locust Grove in crossover action tonight at 7:30 p.m.

Spalding 59, Jackson 39 (girls):

JACKSON — Desiree Corbin continued her strong start to the 2012-13 season with 19 points and 14 rebounds to lead the Spalding Lady Jags to the 59-39 rout over Jackson Saturday evening in non-region action on the road. Twandalette Cotton also chipped in 10 points and 8 rebounds for Spalding.

The Lady Jags improve to 2-1 on the season with the win, which is a marked improvement from last year when Spalding’s girls dropped their first four games.

Spalding ripped Jackson from the opening tip, sprinting to a 24-5 first-quarter lead and cruising from there. The Lady Jags led 39-10 at the half and 53-26 heading into the fourth quarter.

“We outworked Jackson and that was the key to our victory,” said Spalding first-year coach Chad Hubbard. “We were also in better condition than Jackson and that helped us out as well. It was a good team win.”

Spalding hosts Region 4-AAAA Division A foe Locust Grove in crossover action tonight at 6 p.m.