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Red Level hosted Straughn as two county rivals collided on the court and split an intense pair of varsity basketball contests when each came down to the wire Thursday, Jan. 26.

Straughn 46
Red Level 45

SHS used a second-half rally and stretched its winning streak to nine straight games with a 46-45 win over RLS in the varsity girls’ matchup.

The two teams went back and forth in the opening eight minutes and traded the lead several times. Aubrey Pittman of Straughn led all scorers with six points in the frame. Melonie Harris and Presley Bates each drained trifectas. Mariah Crowell opened with five points for Red Level as Liz Cross followed with three. Kaitlyn Beverly, Summer Beverly, and Bailey Green all scored two and helped the hosts to a 14-12 lead after one. The home Lady Tigers broke away from a tie game in the second and stretched their lead to 27-22 at halftime. Cross buried two three-pointers, while Crowell also went beyond the arc and finished four-of-four at the line. Allyx Williamson notched six for the visiting Lady Tigers. Tori Canant and Pittman rounded out the period with two apiece.

Williamson collected seven additional points after the break. Maddie Williamson, Blakeley Smith, and Harris also converted field goals for SHS in the third. Crowell delivered six more and was followed by Cross at four. Ke’mariah Crittenden added a free throw as RLS held a 38-35 lead after three. That set up a fight to the finish from both sides. Pittman and Smith each grabbed four in the final period for the visiting Lady Tigers. Cross and Crowell combined on the host Lady Tigers’ seven-point output.

A. Williamson was the top scorer for Straughn (14-8) with 15 points, while Pittman also finished in double figures with 12. Smith had six points in the win and was followed by Harris at five. Crowell paced Red Level (11-5) with 21 points in the loss as Cross was close behind with 17.

Red Level 48
Straughn 46

RLS held off a late surge from SHS and avoided the sweep with a 48-46 win in the varsity boys’ game.

Action was close in the early going as Straughn took the upper hand with a 10-9 lead after one. Daniel Bell had five points in the opening period and was followed by Micah Turner and Parker Black at two each. Malikye Wright scored four points for Red Level as Caleb Padgett blistered the net for three. Javen Poindexter notched two field goals and four free throws in the second for eight. Padgett knocked down another three-pointer and added five more. Black had four as Kaden Wiggins torched the net from downtown for the visiting Tigers. The host Tigers took a 24-22 lead into the locker room.

Poindexter found the hoop for seven points and led Red Level to a 36-32 lead after three. Treshun Lane banked a three-pointer, and Dominic Williams scored two. Turner also made a bucket and was two-for-two at the line. Taylor Sikes and Bell capped the third period with threes. Poindexter earned seven more in the final frame, and Jamari Brown also found the hoop. Grantham and Black combined for five down the stretch for Straughn.

Poindexter led all scorers with 24 points for RLS (14-4). Padgett added nine points in the win and was followed by Williams at six. Bell paced SHS (5-13) with 12 points in the loss. Black had nine points as Turner and Wiggins collected seven and six, respectively.

Both teams will close the regular season this week. Red Level will welcome Pleasant Home in the area finale Tuesday, Jan. 31, for three games beginning at 4:30 p.m. Straughn will visit Brantley Thursday, Feb. 2, for three games tipping off at 4:30 p.m.