The Straughn Tigers fought hard and never gave up, but ultimately fell 67-46 to the third ranked class 1A Georgiana Panthers Thursday night in Straughn.

 

“Georgiana is one of if not the best 1A school around here, and that is why we scheduled them for Senior Night,” Tigers’ head coach Rusty Andrews said. “We wanted a challenge that would get us ready for the area tournament.”

 

The Panthers showed why they were ranked so highly as they shot out to a 19-6 lead by the end of the first period. Senior Brice Scott had all 6 points for the Tigers in the first period, including his first of five 3-pointers.

 

The Tigers battled back in the second period. Scott remained on fire from downtown, connecting on two more 3-pointers. Scott ended the second period with 8 points. Fellow senior Tucker Lawless got in on the scoring action with 5 points, including going 3-for-4 from the free throw line. The missed free throw broke his streak of 13 straight free throws without a miss. The Tigers still trailed 36-19 heading into halftime.

 

The Tigers continued to put in the effort, but the size and speed of the Panthers was too much for them to overcome.  Scott remained the Tigers biggest scoring threat with 4 more points in the third period. Senior Marshall Farley had 3 points, and senior Rollin Kinsaul had 2 points. Heading into the final period, the Tigers were down 49-30.

 

Proving that they wouldn’t go down without a fight the Tigers put together their best period of the game scoring wise, but it just wasn’t enough to overcome the Panthers’ lead. Scott must have had ice water running throw his veins as he continued to knock down 3-pointers even with pressure in his face. Scott finished the fourth period with 8 points. Lawless added 5 points in the fourth, including a 3-pointer. The Panthers, however, held on to defeat the Tigers 67-46.

 

Scott led the Tigers with 26 points, and Lawless finished the night with 10 points.

 

“I was proud of the effort tonight,” Andrews said. “We never quit, and I was proud of them for that.”

 

The Tigers final game of the season will be tonight as they travel to Elba to take on the 2A Tigers.