Red Level hosted Straughn, as the two county rivals collided and split an intense pair varsity basketball matches when each went down to the wire on Thursday, January 26.

Straughn 46 Red Level

SHS used a second half rally to win and extended its winning streak of nine games with a 46-45 victory over RLS in the varsity girls matchup.

In the first eight minutes, the two teams traded leads several times and went back-and-forth. Aubrey Pittman from Straughn was the top scorer with six points. Melonie Harris, Presley Bates and Presley Bates each took three-pointers. Mariah Crowell opened the game with five points for Red Level, while Liz Cross was next with three. Summer Beverly, Kaitlyn Beverly and Bailey Green each scored two points, which helped the hosts take a 14-12 lead. After a tie in the first, the home Lady Tigers quickly broke through and extended their lead to 27-22 by halftime. Cross made two three-pointers and Crowell was able to make four of four at the line. Allyx Williamson scored six points for the Lady Tigers. The period was completed by Tori Canant, Pittman, and two more.

Williamson scored seven more points after the break. Maddie Williamson and Blakeley Smith converted field goals in the third for SHS. Crowell added six more points, and Cross followed at four. After three, RLS led 38-35 with Ke’mariah Critenden adding a free throw. Both teams fought to the end. Smith and Pittman each scored four points in the final period of play for the Lady Tigers. Cross and Crowell combined for seven points by the Lady Tigers.

A. Williamson, who scored 15 points, was Straughn’s top scorer (14-8), while Pittman finished with 12. Smith scored six points, followed by Harris with five. Red Level (11-5), was led by Crowell, who scored 21 points in the loss. Cross was not far behind with 17.

Red Level 48

Straughn 46

RLS held off SHS’s late surge and won the varsity boys’ match 48-46.

In the beginning, it was close but Straughn won with a 10-9 lead after the first period. Daniel Bell scored five points in the first period. Micah Turner followed at two by Parker Black. Red Level’s Malikye Wright scored four goals while Caleb Padgett netted three. Javen Poindexter scored two field goals, and made four free throws in his second half for eight. Padgett hit another three-pointer, and Padgett added five more. Black scored four points as Kaden Wiggins smashed the net from downtown. The locker room was 24-22 in favor of the host Tigers.

Poindexter scored seven points in the hoop and led Red Level to a lead of 36-32 after three. Treshun Lane scored a three-pointer and Dominic Williams had two. Turner was also able to score a bucket, and was on the line two-for-two. Bell and Taylor Sikes finished the third period with threes. Poindexter scored seven more points in the final frame. Jamari Brown also made it to the hoop. Grantham and Black shared five points down the stretch for Straughn.

Poindexter was the top scorer with 24 points for RLS (11-4). Padgett scored nine more points, while Williams added six. Bell led SHS (5-13), with 12 points in loss. Black scored nine points, while Turner and Wiggins had seven and six, respectively.

The regular season will be concluded by both teams this week. Red Level will host Pleasant Home in the final Tuesday of the season, January 31, with three games starting at 4:30 pm. Straughn will be visiting Brantley on Thursday, February 2, for three games that will start at 4:30 pm.

The post Red Level Boys Win Over Straughn; Lady Tigers Fall by One originally appeared on The AndalusiaStar-News.