The Red Level Tigers put up solid efforts, but both teams fell in the opening round of the 2017 Red Level Christmas tournament on Thursday.

GIRLS

CARROLL 50,

RED LEVEL 29

Carroll came out on fire and cruised past the Red Level Lady Tigers for a 50-29 victory.

Red Level got a free throw from Natalie Feagin in the first period, but Carroll surged to a 22-1 lead at the end of the first period.

In the second period, Feagin tacked on four points, but the Lady Tigers trailed Carroll 33-9 at halftime.

Jayla Poindexter added four points in the third period as the Lady Tigers trailed 40-18 heading into the final frame.

The Lady Tigers didn’t give up, but fell 50-29.

“Carroll is a really good team,” Lady Tigers’ head coach Allen Catrett said. “We dug ourselves in a hole early, but I did like the way that we got after it tonight. Other than early one in the game, I felt like we made some good passes and had good intensity on defense.”

BOYS

LUVERNE 60,

RED LEVEL 43

In the final game of the evening Red Level kept it close, but came up on the short end of a 60-43 final.

Red Level started out strong with a bucket from Joel Phillips and a 3-pointer from Kade Green had the Tigers out front 5-0.

Luverne caught fire as the took an 18-9 lead at the end of the first.

Red Level kept it close with big plays from Chance Russell, Jacob Catrett and Matthew Coleman, but it just wasn’t enough to overcome the quickness of Luverne.

Russell lead the Tigers with 15 points.

Red Level will play Pike Road today, Fri., Dec. 29 at 1:30 p.m.