The Straughn Lady Tigers defeated the Red Level Lady Tigers 59-24 Monday night in the opening round of the eighth annual Straughn High School Thanksgiving Tournament.

Straughn got off to a quick start by taking a 21-6 lead in the first period. The Tigers played very aggressive on the boards, taking advantage of many second chance shots.

Red Level never let the deficit get them down, and they kept clawing their way onto the scoreboard. At the half, Red Level trailed Straughn 30-14.

Both teams came out shooting a hot hand in the third quarter, and Straughn held a 46-24 lead at the end of three.

Straughn came out in the fourth firing on all cylinders, and shut down Red Level in the final period. The final score was 59-24.

Shelby Holley led Red Level with 10 points and Kayla Hinson added 8 points.

“Straughn is a well coached team with really good players. They have been to the final four the past two season, so it’s games like these that we just want to try and get better,” Red Level head coach Allen Catrett said. “We are still improving, and we want to peak sometime in late January and early February. This is preparation for that time.”

Jaci Williamson was the leading scorer for Straughn with 26 points. Brentley Armstrong added 13 points for Straughn.

“We played solid tonight. There were a couple of lulls where we lost our focus in the second and third, but overall it was a great effort,” Straughn head coach Scott Kinsaul said. “We don’t rely on just one person it is always a team effort. Williamson scores a lot, but her teammates have to do their jobs for that to happen.”