The Andalusia Bulldogs knocked off the Straughn Tigers 54-47 Friday night in Andalusia to win the regular season area title.

 

The Tigers came out strong with Rollin Kinsaul and Marshall Farley knocking down treys to take an early 6-0 lead.

 

The Bulldogs bounced within 1 point after Trevor Parker completed a 3-point play with a free throw, and B.J Anderson went 2-for-2 from the line to put the Bulldogs down 6-5.

 

Johnathon Driver capped off the scoring in the first period to put the Tigers up 8-5 at the end of one.

 

The Bulldogs got 9 straight points to open up the second period, and held a 14-8 lead early on. Parker buried a 3-pointer, and added an assist to Anderson during the Bulldogs’ run.

 

Kinsaul drained another 3-pointer for the Tigers to cut the lead to 14-12.

 

Parker added 2 more points after getting an offensive rebound and taking it back up for a score at the buzzer. Parker’s shot put the Bulldogs up 20-15 at halftime.

 

The Bulldogs struck 4 quick points to open up the third period, and take a 24-15 lead.

 

Brice Scott then scored 7 straight points for the Tigers to cut the Bulldogs’ lead to 24-22. The Bulldogs answered right back with a 2-pointer, but Kinsaul buried another 3-pointer to bring the Tigers within 1 point.

 

Four quick points from Jamal Hourel and DeVante Jackson put the Bulldogs up 30-25.

 

Kinsaul then popped another 3-pointer that brought the Tigers within 2 points with just over three minutes left in the third period.

 

A few plays later, Parker drove the lane beautifully for 2 points, and a 35-30 lead for the Bulldogs.

 

After a 3-pointer and 2-pointer from Scott, the Tigers trailed the Bulldogs 39-37 heading into the final period.

 

The Bulldogs struck first in fourth when Parker went 1-for-2 from the free throw line to give them a 40-37 lead.

 

Tucker Lawless put the Tigers only down 1 after a 2-for-2 trip to the free throw line.

 

The Tigers tied the game up at 41-41 a minute later when Kinsaul dished the rock to Farley under the goal for an easy layup. Kinsaul then gave the Tigers a lead 43-41 with a 2-for-2 effort from the line.

The Bulldogs then went on a 7-0 run to take a 48-43 lead with two minutes left in the game. Anderson capped the run with an acrobatic layup along the baseline.

 

Farley then drained a 3-pointer to end the Bulldogs’ run, and bring the Tigers back within 2 points.

 

With the Bulldogs up 49-47 and 23 seconds left on the clock, a Straughn play corralled a loose ball and called a timeout. The only problem was Straughn didn’t have any left, which resulted in a technical foul.

 

Bulldogs’ coach Richard Roberston selected the freshman Anderson to shoot the technical fouls, and he sank both of them to give the Bulldogs a 51-47 lead with 23 seconds left. The Bulldogs retained possession, and Anderson was fouled and went to the line for two shots.

 

Parker led the Bulldogs with 24 points. Anderson finished with 19 points, and Jackson had 8 points.

 

Scott led the Tigers with 19 points. Kinsaul finished the night with 13 points.

 

“I’m proud as I can be of our players,” Robertson said. “They have persevered all season by working hard, and they are starting to see the dividends of that work. They have stayed the course. It’s always good to win against a good team like Straughn. This has been a tough area. Every game we have played has been a tight one, but tonight we won the regular season area championship. We can’t get complacent with that. We have to keep winning to keep playing. I was so proud of them tonight, and I told them that. I want to thank the fans, we had a huge crowd tonight and they got their money’s worth.”

 

The Bulldogs will be back in action tonight as they face the T.R. Miller Tigers with the B-team tipping off at 4:30 p.m.

 

The Tigers’ next game with be Jan. 29 when they play Georgiana at home.