Andalusia hosts Straughn in an varsity basketball doubleheader both teams emerged with wins in a split rivalry on the Tuesday of December. 5.
Girls
Straughn established a lead of 19 points in the third quarter and was able to hold off an enthralling Andalusia attack to secure an impressive 47-40 victory in the girls’ varsity game.
The Lady Tigers took an early 3-1 lead, but Kelsie Horwath got her Lady Bulldogs on the board with a free-throw. Maddie Williamson had back-to-back baskets and extended up the advantage to 9-3. Kamari Gay reduced the deficit to 11-8 after an unselfish three-point shot and earned five points in the first quarter. Kionni Wright hit a drive to the hoop that led Andalusia close to 11-10 at the end of one. M. Williamson finished with six points to Straughn and Allyx Williamson tallied three, then Bryleigh McBride with two.
Wright scored a point to make it 11-11 midway through the second period, before the home 6-0 run. Aubrey Pittman swished a three-pointer and Ora Hall made her Lady Tigers in front 17-11 after five minutes of the first period. Gay cut the deficit back to four points at 17-13, however, it was the Lady Bulldogs could not get further. A. Williamson had eight in the first half and added to 29-17 by halftime.
A. Williamson added four in the third frame. Anna Driver pushed Straughn’s lead up to 38-19 after an uncontested basket with just four minutes into the game. Wright created a comeback plan after Andalusia scored the final 11 points to cut the lead to 38-30 following three.
Wright and Horwath began the fourth quarter with baskets, making things easier to both the Lady Bulldogs at 38-34. However, the Lady Tigers responded with field goals by Pittman as well as A. Williamson to once increase the cushion to double-digits, at 46-36. Andalusia could not reach seven and Straughn kept the ball in the stretch.
A. Williamson led Straughn with 18 points. Pittman also had to a double-digit performance with 10 points. Hall was fifth with five points, next in line with McBride who scored two.
Wright led Andalusia in scoring with 16 points and Horwath scored nine. Gay had 8 points during the defeat while Berry had seven.
The Lady Tigers won their third consecutive game, and moved to 4-2 for the season. However, the Lady Bulldogs fell to 0-2 overall for the season.
Boys
In a tightly fought game throughout, Andalusia picked up a 60-60 victory against Straughn in the Varsity boys’ game.
The Tigers were ahead in the opening minutes of the game and scored four points from Clark Jordan. Kaden Wiggins, as well as Clark Gay each had three points in the first frame. Tevin Sigers provided his Bulldogs their first advantage of the game at 50 seconds remaining in the opening. Jordan was able to beat the buzzer and reduced down the deficit to 13-12 following one.
The offenses remained on both sides, with impressive performances throughout the game, particularly in the third. Nashaun Wilson was astonished with two three-pointers and was able to take Andalusia to a 27-21 advantage. Laeton Smith scored three points in the second half, and also buckets from Sigers, Xavier Hourel, Hudson Kelley, and Cadariyus Love. Jordan continued his impressive play with five points, and a an easy layup that brought Straughn close to 30-28 at break. Wiggins had 10-points in the second quarter, including six-for-six in the line of flogging.
Joseph Driver tied the game at 30-30 in the third quarter with an uncontested basket. Wiggins took the lead back to tie his Tigers at 33-32 with just 6:57 remaining. Sigers scored a lengthy three to give them a 37-35 advantage. The momentum continued to swing back and forth until Wiggins extended the Tigers lead to three, at 45-42, at 2:24 left in the frame. The lead was changed and set the stage for an exciting finish, with the Bulldogs still holding an advantage of 47-46 after three.
Tyler Sigers hit a clutch three to give Andalusia the biggest lead of 59-50 with just 2:30 left at the end of the contest. Wiggins came back with a triple and continued to be a master in the free-throw line making the score by 62-60. Straughn was able to make an error in the closing second and was close to forcing overtime, but his shot was just a hair short of. Wiggins scored eight points while Jordan scored two points in the fourth quarter for the Tigers in the fourth. They Bulldogs have scored 10 out of their last 15 points at the foul line.
Wiggins was the top scorer with 28 points. Jordan also scored double figures with 13 points for Straughn.
Tyler Sigers grabbed 16 points during the victory and was then followed by Tevin Sigers with 15 points. Marshall was the final scorer by scoring 8 points. Andalusia.
The Bulldogs have improved their mark to 2 wins for the year. The Tigers were 4-4 overall.
Straughn will host McKenzie on Dec. 8 on Friday. 8 as well as Florala on Monday December. 11. Andalusia is scheduled to travel from Straughn for a visit on the Tuesday of December. 12.
The article Andalusia girls, Straughn girls claim victories in a rivalry game was first published at The Andalusia Star-News.
