After falling behind by nearly 20 points in the first period, the Straughn Tigers continued to fight their way back into the game, but fell 63-49 to the Carroll Eagles Monday night in Straughn.

“We are really young and we still have a lot to learn,” Straughn head coach Rusty Andrews said. “We played hard tonight, but we have to cut down the turnovers.”

The Eagles opened on the game on an absolute tear, and in the bat of an eye, jumped out front 11-0 behind a slew of 3-pointers.

Straughn then got a strong drive and layup from Johnathan Driver to get on the board.

Cole Harris also got a basket for the Tigers, but at the end of one, Straughn trailed 20-4.

The Tigers started strong in the second with a layup from Hank Peeples and a 3-pointer from Allan George to cut the score to 20-9.

George got another 3-pointer a few minutes later and Peeples followed with bucket from downtown that cut the Eagles’ lead down to 31-21.

At halftime, the Eagles held a 35-24 lead.

The Eagles continued their hot shooting in the third period, and held a 53-38 lead heading into the final frame.

The Tigers continued to fight their way back into the game with 5-straight points from Driver to cut the lead down to 10, but that was a close as the Tigers were able to get it.

Driver led the Tigers with 20 points on the evening, and George finished with 14.

“With one of our better players out with an injury, I knew it was going to be tough time inside for us, but I was proud of the way we stayed the in game and never gave up. We just couldn’t stop them.”