The Andalusia Lady Bulldogs overcame a late deficit to defeat the Greenville Lady Tigers 50-48 Monday in the final round of the Red Level Christmas tournament.

 

The Lady Tigers got the early edge with an 8-6 lead after the first period. Merikal McCaskill had the Lady Bulldogs off to a good start with 4 points in the first. Shakireyonna Rudolph had 4 points for the Lady Tigers.

 

The Lady Bulldogs trimmed the Lady Tigers’ lead to one by halftime, 21-20. Alexis Lawrence went 3-for-6 from the free throw line, and had 5 points for the Lady Bulldogs. Janelle McCall had 4 points for the Lady Tigers.

 

In the third period, the Lady Bulldogs fell behind 33-25. Alexis had 3 points for the Lady Bulldogs. Abby Taylor had 6 points for the Lady Tigers.

 

The Lady Bulldogs battled back in the fourth, and with a little over three minutes remaining Keyasha Comer tied the game up at 40-40. Aaliyah Lawrence put the Lady Bulldogs up 43-42 with a pair of free throws following a technical foul on the Lady Tigers. Alexis put the Bulldogs up 45-42 on the ensuing inbound play. Less than a minute later Aaliyah was back at the charity stripe where she went 2-for-2, and extended the Lady Bulldogs lead to 47-42. McCaskill added to the lead with 55 seconds left to give the Bulldogs a 49-44 lead. Aaliyah made another trip to the free throw line with 14 seconds left, and put the Lady Bulldogs up 50-44. Aaliyah went 7-for-8 from the free throw line in the final period. The Lady Tigers got two baskets in the final 14 seconds, but came up short of the Lady Bulldogs 50-48.

 

Taylor was the leading scorer for the Lady Tigers with 10 points.

 

Alexis finished with 14 points to lead the Bulldogs, and Aaliyah had 12 points. Aaliyah was 10-for-15 from the free throw line.

 

“We won because of hustle plays,” Lady Bulldogs’ head coach Brad Garner said. “We still are executing or shooting well, but we are getting better. This was big for our girls to win two close games like this. Hopefully, it will provide some momentum heading into area play.”