GEORGIANA — Hobie Hughes’ 24 points and eight rebounds helped spur Straughn to a 49-43 end-of-the-regular-season victory over Georgiana on Monday night.

The gymnasium was packed as the senior-laiden Panthers team was vying for a win on senior night.

That didn’t happen thanks to the Tigers’ game tempo and strong inside presence.

“We always get effort,” SHS coach Rusty Andrews said.

Straughn (13-11) held a hefty 35-21 lead going into the fourth period, where Georgiana sprouted wings and went on a 17-5 run to put the game at 40-38 with 2:23 left in the ball game.

After the time out, SHS guard JD Driver got a quick steal and passed the ball to senior guard Avery Driver on transition, who then was fouled on the other end by Panthers guard Adrian Rich, who fouled out.

The Panthers then cut into the Tigers’ lead by one point with a 3-pointer from Keon Binion, who had two treys in the fourth period, and led GHS with 11 points.

With a narrow 42-41 lead, Hughes drove the basket and was fouled on a put back. He made the back-end of a pair and with 46.4 seconds left, the Tigers called a time out to regroup.

Out of the time out, Georgiana set up a 3-pointer play with Trey Brockman begin the player with the ball.

Brockman’s attempt missed and Straughn’s Brice Scott got the rebound and was fouled later on the transition.

Scott made his free throws and the Tigers led 45-41 with 29.4 seconds left.

The next Panthers possession, Brockman missed the jumper that rimmed out and Griffin Windham, who got the rebound, was fouled with 15.5 left to go. Windham made his free throws and the Tigers led 47-41 to put the game out of reach for GHS.

Untouched, Brockman made a drive up the paint for an easy two, and his team called a quick time out.

On Straughn’s inbound play, Avery was fouled with 6. seconds and he drained the game winners to give the Tigers the win.

“It’s one of those we almost let the tempo get out of hand (type of games),” Andrews said. “We’re still learning to play tempo basketball.”

Avery chipped in 15 points and had two steals for the Tigers. JD had six points, and Windham had four assists.

Straughnt led 11-9 after the first period after getting off to a 6-3 start at the 3:55 mark in the first period on a pass from JD to Hughes. Avery hit a trey later and the Tigers led 9-5 with 3:20 to go.

Straughn edged the Panthers 11-10 in the second period to lead 22-19 at half time.

Scott’s drive to the bucket with 4:11 to go in the fourth period gave the Tigers a 39-29 lead, which led to the first of Binion’s 3-pointers.

In girls action, the Lady Tigers (22-4) came away with a 53-29 rout over the Lady Panthers.

Straughn led 17-3 after the first period and 33-11 at half time.

Jacie Williamson’s pass to Katelyn Kinsaul, after a successful drive to the paint on transition by Anjelica Bonham, put the Lady Tigers ahead 46-19 late in the third period.

Straughn led 47-20 going into the fourth and outscored the Lady Panthers 13-9.

Brittany Driver led the Lady Tigers with 20 points; Kinsaul chipped in 11 points; and Williamson had 10 points.

Georgiana’s Kenya Loveless had eight points.

In B-team action, the Panthers won 41-32.

Straughn’s varsity boys will visit Headland this Friday to play rival Andalusia in the first round of the Class 4A, Area 3 tournament at 5:30 p.m.

The Lady Tigers will travel a short way to Andalusia, where they will have Ashford on Thursday night at 5:30 in the first round of the area tournament.