The Straughn Lady Tigers fought their way back on Tuesday to claim fifth place in the 10th annual Straughn Lady Tigers Thanksgiving basketball tournament at Straughn High School.

Straughn knocked off Pike County in the opening game Tuesday morning and then wrapped up the day with victory over the Brantley Lady Bulldogs.

STRAUGHN 43,

PIKE COUNTY 25

In the first game of the day, the Lady Tigers turned on the pressure and topped Pike County 43-25.

Sydney Kinsaul knocked down a 3-pointer in the opening minutes to get the Lady Tigers off and running.

Midway through the second period, Allie Kelley dropped in a pair of free throws to put Straughn on top 15-9.

Moments later, Kelley made a strong move to the basket for layup and drew a foul on the way up. Kelley buried the and-one opportunity to give the Lady Tigers a 20-11 lead.

The Lady Tigers picked up another bucket just before halftime when Colby Adams drained a jumper from the corner.

At halftime, the Lady Tigers were on top 22-11.

Straughn continued to play strongly into the second half of the game and held a 33-18 lead at the end of the third period.

Kinsaul went 3-for-4 from the free throw line in the third period, and Adams buried a 3-pointer to lead the way for the Lady Tigers.

Adams then started off the third period with another triple from downtown to give Straughn a 36-18 lead.

Chelsi Brooks also picked up 3 points in the final period to help give Straughn a 43-25 victory.

Kelley led the way for Straughn with 11 points, and Adams finished with 8 points.

STRAUGHN 62, BRANTLEY 50

The Straughn offense turned up the heat in the final game of the day as they topped Brantley 62-50 in the fifth place game on Tuesday afternoon.

Brantley started the game off with a 3-pointer, but Straughn’s Dean answered right back with a 3-pointer of her own to tie the game.

The Lady Tigers forced a turnover and Dean responded with a 3-pointer to put Straughn on top 6-3.

Straughn continued to ride the hot hand as Dean buried her third 3-pointer in as many attempts to give the Lady Tigers a 9-3 advantage.

Brantley then responded with a flurry of 3-pointers to tie the game 9-9.

Dean then came up with a steal and fastbreak-layup to give the Lady Tigers the lead back.

Brantley tied the game back up and then went on a short run to take a 16-13 lead into the second period.

Brantley opened the second period strong and stretched their lead to 20-15.

Kinsaul got the Lady Tigers back on the board with a pair of free throws, and followed it up with a steal and assist to Dean to cut Brantley’s lead down to 20-17.

Straughn grabbed the lead back at 25-24 when Adams dropped in a layup off of an assist from Kelley.

Brantley got off a shot before the halftime buzzer and took a 26-25 lead into the third period.

In the second half, the Lady Tigers offense came surging out of the gate and doubled their score in just one period.

Dean tied the game 28-28 with a 3-pointer, and moments later gave the Lady Tigers a lead with a layup.

The Lady Tigers wouldn’t trail for the remainder of the contest.

Dean was lights out from the floor and led the Lady Tigers with 25 points.

“I was as surprised as anyone else by the way we played,” Lady Tigers’ head coach Scott Kinsaul said. “I’ve been waiting on that team to show up all season. It shows what we can do when we continue to work and we don’t quit. We still have work to do, but I’m proud of the way the girls played today.”