Straughn was unable to stop Pleasant Home and escaped from its county rival by securing two wins that were lopsided on the road in a doubleheader basketball game on Jan. 12. 9.
Lady Tigers 41
Lady Eagles 15
Straughn was able to have eight players score on offense, and played well in defense to earn an impressive 41-15 victory in the girls’ varsity match.
Both teams struggled in the opening period but could not get a goal. Ora Hall scored an open jumper at 4:14 before following it up by an easy layup. Bryleigh McBride pushed the lead to 6-0 with the basket. McBride scored a basket. Lady Eagles broke through on the scoreboard with just 2:35 to finish the frame, when Hailey Ward scored. Pressley Kelley also scored an important bucket, bringing Lady Eagles to Lady Eagles within two at 4-4. Hall also added her 3rd basket while she and the Lady Tigers took an 8-4 advantage after just one.
Ward cut the deficit down to 8-6 by scoring an early shot during the 2nd. Allyx Williamson answered by launching a shot into the hoop. Kelley kept the game tight with a field goal just at the 6:22 point, but Pleasant Home was unable to score in the second half. Maddie Williamson got an offensive rebound and hit an attempt that triggered the run with a 12-0 score. Hall hit another jumper and then hit back-to-back triples. Aubrey Pittman went off the glass to score the final two points in the game, and Straughn had a lead of 22-8 at the half.
The offense cooled off after the break, and only managed eighth point in the final. The Williamson sisters contributed Six points for their Lady Tigers’ points as the score was 28-8. They Lady Eagles did not have an attempt at a field goal, and they nearly finished the whole game without scoring. Briley Douglas scored two free throws in 27.2 seconds left to give the team the score 28-10 after three.
Douglas was three-for-four at the finish line in the final quarter. A. Williamson banked a shot over the glass with just 3:12 seconds to go and increased his lead from 32-13. Tori Canant then went nothing other than net on a long three and Hall scored a layup. Chloe Bush found the hoop to score Pleasant Home’s two points in the frame. Kadyn Johnson, and Kinsley Short also spotted the scoring column in towards the end of Straughn.
Hall was the leading scoring player of the Lady Tigers (12-6) with 16 points. A. Williamson followed with 12 points, as did M. Williamson chipped in four points.
Douglas was the top scorer for his team Lady Eagles (6-9) with five points while Ward as well as Kelley each added four.
“We began slow in the opening half on offense and were unable to hit our shots to keep the momentum moving. After halftime, we re-evaluated our approach and began more confident during the 2nd half. We were able to execute our offense effectively, which enabled us to make better shot choices. Pleasant Home had some really quick players who were great at controlling the ball and challenging us to a great degree in defense. Head Coach (Tony) Wilson does an excellent job of his players, and I sincerely wish him all the best for the remainder of his season.” SHS Head Coach Calen Lowery stated.
Tigers 67
Eagles 46
The Tigers took a quick lead and maintained it throughout the game to win 67-46 against the Eagles in the varsity boys’ game.
Joseph Driver opened the scoring by scoring a three, but Brody Bryan answered back with the bucket. Parker Black followed with a layup, which triggered an 12-0 Straughn increase. Kaden Wiggins as well as Taylor Sikes blitzed the net with consecutive threes. Driver was able to push Straughn into a 15-2 advantage. Bryan made four free throws prior to Clark Jordan got an offensive rebound that brought an advantage to win 17-6. Jackson Hawkins used a three as did John Luke Colvin made two from the line to draw Pleasant Home back within six at 17-11, after just one.
The highlight of the tape during the second quarter was a three-pointer, when both teams teamed up with 35 points from seven shots from long distances. The Tigers were able to start the period with a 7-2 rout and extended their lead to double figures. Wiggins scored a three-pointer for an advantage of 24-13 with six minutes left in the first half. Wiggins and Colvin traded three more baskets, all of them from outside the arc – to bring an overall score of 27-19. Driver and Hawkins were also back-to-back with three points in the frame. Layne Grantham came up with a shot to the goal and Sikes scored a basket to give the Eagles an early 36-22 advantage. Shawn Thomas Stockton scored the third and final three points, while Hawkins scored a basket in the final minutes as the Eagles kept their grip on the game to 36-27 by the half.
Straughn emerged from his break to play a spirited third period of defense and offense. Jordan was the top scorer, scoring six points during the third period, and he scored four of four from the foul line. Wiggins scored his fourth three to give the team a lead of 43-27 just five minutes into the game. Vance Kelley converted a three-point play and scored the lone five points scored by Pleasant Home. Black was off the ball for two points and extended his lead up to 51-32 with three.
The offenses came back to form during the final quarter and scored 30 points. Hunter Butts sparked the home bench with two threes. Jordan also hit the hoop two times. Clark Gay added two free throws for the Tigers. Colvin as well as Bryan each had seven points each for the Eagles.
Wiggins led Straughn (6-9) in scoring with 16 points in the victory. Jordan and Sikes also scored double-digit scores at 11 and 12 respectively. Driver was eighth, while Sikes scored seven. Black who scored six.
Bryan and Colvin both tied for the top spot, scoring 14 points for Pleasant Home (12-7). Hawkins also scored 10 points in the loss, while Kelley added five points.
“These young players have been working each day and game to improve. We’re focusing on what we have to accomplish to make it through the playoffs. Tonight, the young players did a great job and I was very happy for their efforts. We played an entire match on court. PHS had a problem with one of their top players, and I am sure that when we next meet we’ll need to be ready for any new threats to the floor.” SHS Head Coach Trevor Driver stated.
Both teams will be in action this evening, Friday January. 12. Pleasant Home heads to McKenzie to play in a regional match-up, while Straughn is home and will play Georgiana.
The article Straughn manages Pleasant Home with ease for sweep was first published in The Andalusia Star-News.
