The Straughn Tigers’ (19-8) title aspirations will be put the test today as they face the Clarke County Bulldogs (15-14) in the semi-final round of the South Regional tournament in Dothan.

 

“You can’t judge them by their record,” Straughn head coach Rusty Andrews said of Clarke County. “They are a very athletic team who played in a tough area. They knocked Thomasville out of the whole tournament.”

 

Andrews said his team would have to play the best game they can, and if they do that they will be there in the end.

 

“At this point in the season you know you aren’t going to have an easy match up anywhere,” Andrews said. “One good thing we have going for us is that you can’t key in on one player. We play such good team basketball that if one person isn’t able to get it done then there are four other guys on the court with the ability to take over the ball game.”

 

Seniors Rollin Kinsaul, Brice Scott, Austin Bozeman, Marshall Farley and Tucker Lawless lead the Tigers. Andrews said he expects his seniors to continue to provide the leadership and great teamwork they have displayed all season long.

 

“These are great senior leaders that we have on this team,” Andrews said. “Their efforts our what have made us successful.”

 

Andrews said that on defense they wouldn’t be able to focus just on one player.

 

“With a team with good of athletes at Clarke County has you can’t just focus on one of them,” Andrews said. “They do a lot of different things with the ball, but we have prepared all season for different types of offenses so that we won’t be caught of guard by anything they throw at us.”

 

Andrews said that his Tigers are playing their best ball at the right time.

 

“We had our ups and downs this season,” Andrews said. “Right now, I would say our last three games have been our best three games. We are peaking at the right time, and we want to finish on a strong note.”

 

The Straughn Tigers and the Clarke County Bulldogs will tipoff at 1:30 p.m. today in Dothan.