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Andalusia defended its home court and earned two double-digit basketball victories against rival Straughn on Tuesday, Dec. 3.

Lady Bulldogs 46, Lady Tigers 32
Andalusia (2-0) took an early lead and gave Straughn (5-1) its first loss of the season for a 46-32 win in the varsity girls’ game.

Destini Hourel opened the game with a quick layup before Blakeley Smith evened the score with two free throws. Kelsie Horwath sank a free throw and converted a layup as the Lady Bulldogs took a 7-5 lead. Annlee Wise buried two three-pointers and put the Lady Tigers in front 8-7. Kionni Wright beat the buzzer with a three and lifted the hosts to a 10-8 lead at the end of the first period.

Wright made three baskets in the second period and pushed the margin to 16-9. Hourel scored five straight points for a 21-11 lead with 3:05 left until halftime. Presley Bates had three in the frame for Straughn, but Andalusia grabbed a 23-14 lead at the break.

The Lady Bulldogs gained some breathing room with a 14-1 run and finished with 15 points in the third period. Wright and Hourel each added five, while Saniya Bradley and Horwath also found the hoop for two. Wise made two buckets, and Smith was one-of-two at the line, but the Lady Tigers trailed 38-19 at the end of the third.

Smith began the final period with seven points and tallied 12 in the frame. Hannah Poston made a free throw for Straughn. Wright had four as Ahlydiah Kelly and Horwath both posted two for Andalusia who won their second game of the season.

Wright led the Lady Bulldogs with 18 points in the win, and Hourel also finished in double digits with 15. Smith paced the Lady Tigers with 17 points in the loss as Wise scored 10.

Andalusia 75, Straughn 56
The Bulldogs (1-0) had 10 players score and cruised to a 75-56 win over the Tigers (4-6) in the varsity boys’ game.

Noah Fowler started the contest with a jumper for Straughn. Xavier Hourel was on fire early with 10 points in the opening period including two dunks and four free throws for the hosts. Cadariyus Love and Laeton Smith built the home lead to 17-9 with consecutive three-pointers. Clark Jordan and Joseph Driver combined for 11 points and trimmed the deficit to 17-15 with less than a minute to go. Andalusia battled back and took a 23-15 lead after one.

Fowler began the second period with a bucket, and Ace Carter drained a three-pointer that cut the margin to 23-20. L. Smith knocked down a three before Tyson Smith and Love also made baskets and stretched the lead to 30-22. Carter finished with five points in the frame as Driver, Fowler, and Jordan had two apiece for the Tigers. The Bulldogs managed only eight points but took a 31-26 lead at halftime.

Hourel led off the third period with back-to-back baskets, and Hudson Kelley delivered a three-pointer as the cushion grew to 38-26. Calvin Daniel then posted nine points for Andalusia, while Nashaun Wilson converted a three-point play for a 52-35 advantage. Straughn went on an 8-0 run led by four from Driver and trailed 52-43 after three.

Love led the charge with a dozen points including two three-pointers for the Bulldogs in the fourth. Wilson also added a three as Daniel, Kelley, Hourel, and Emmanuel Marshall also found the hoop. Jordan and Carter each had two buckets for the Tigers. Driver scored three, and Hunter McBride chipped in two.

Love was the top scorer for Andalusia with 19 points in the win. Hourel and Daniel were next with 16 and 11, respectively. Driver and Carter tied for the team lead with 16 points each for Straughn as Jordan also contributed double digits at 14.

Both teams are back in action next week. The Tigers will welcome Georgiana on Monday, Dec. 9, and host the Bulldogs for a rematch on Tuesday, Dec. 10.