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Andalusia began the second half of basketball season and opened the new year with two wins against Opp on Friday, Jan. 3.

Lady Bulldogs 50, Lady Bobcats 29
Andalusia (10-3) broke away from a close game early and cruised to a 50- 29 win over Opp (5-5) in the varsity girls’ game.

Kionni Wright, Ahlydiah Kelly, and Kelsie Horwath each had a basket as the Lady Bulldogs opened up a 6-0 lead. Taylor Adams and Kianna Barnes then hit back-to-back threes and forced a 6-6 tie. Kelly added two more buckets, while the Lady Bobcats only managed one more the rest of the period and trailed 13-8 after one.

Destini Hourel extended the lead to 15-8 with a quick basket in the second. Adams knocked down a pair of three-pointers and cut the score to 15-14. Wright found the hoop three times during a 12-2 offensive run to close the first half. Hourel had four in the period as Horwath and Kelly each posted two on offense. The defense held Opp to a bucket from Barnes and lifted Andalusia to a 27-16 lead at halftime.

Horwath picked up the second half with the hot hand and scored seven points in the third. Wright banked a three-pointer and chipped in five, while Hourel also found the basket for two. The Lady Bulldogs brought the pressure and kept the Lady Bobcats off the scoreboard to build their lead to 41-16 after three.

Chloe Bentley ended the scoreless drought with a basket at the 6:16 point of the fourth and scored four. Madi Matthews and Barnes each shot a three-pointer as Opp posted 13 points in the final period. Khayria Reynolds and Jaidyn Berry both got in the scoring column with three and two points, respectively, for Andalusia.

Wright led the Lady Bulldogs with 17 points as Horwath also earned a double-digit effort at 14. Barnes was the top scorer for the Lady Bobcats with 12 points and followed by Adams who had nine.

Andalusia 46, Opp 30
The Bulldogs (7-5) used a big second half and erased a one-point deficit to post a 46-30 win against the Bobcats (7-6) in the varsity boys’ game.

D.J. Hines put Opp on the board first with a bucket. The lead was short lived when Andalusia struck back behind four points by Xavier Hourel and two each from Hudson Kelley and Jaquez Mcmeans. Hines scored two more baskets and brought the score to 8-6 after one.

Nashaun Wilson made two free throws and also found the hoop with four points in the second. Cadariyus Love sank a three-pointer as the Bulldogs padded their lead to 15-6. Laeton Smith added a free throw for a 16-10 lead, but the Bobcats responded back with the final seven points. Talan Wicker made a three-pointer as a late bucket from Alan Jones made the halftime score, 17-16.

Andalusia took control with a strong showing on both sides of the ball in the third period. Michael Berry and Wilson both led the way with five points and each made a three-pointer. Smith also converted a deep ball as Calvin Daniel, Hourel, and Love rounded out the 19-point offensive effort. Opp was limited to five points with three from Hines and two by Jones as the score stood at 35-22 after three.

Hourel made two more buckets in the fourth including a thundering dunk, and Smith had another three-pointer. The Bulldogs outscored their counterparts again as Berry and Love also managed a basket in the final period. Hines had four of the eight points posted by the Bobcats down the stretch.

Hourel collected a team-leading 10 points for Andalusia as Wilson followed with nine points. Berry, Love, and Smith each chipped in seven points. Hines posted 17 points for Opp, and Jones had eight.

Opp will remain home and host Straughn for area matchups on Thursday, Jan. 9. Andalusia will visit Greenville in area contests on Friday, Jan. 10.