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The script read the same as Straughn used a strong defense in the second half during two crucial area basketball games against Bullock County on Monday, Jan. 13.

Lady Tigers 40, Lady Hornets 17
Straughn (12-5, 4-0 4A Area 4) broke the game wide open in the second half with its offense and stout defense and topped Bullock County (3-9, 2-2) for a 40-17 win in the varsity girls’ game.

The win kept the Lady Tigers unbeaten in area play halfway through the area schedule and finished a season sweep of the Lady Hornets.

Blakeley Smith and Hannah Poston started with back-to-back home baskets in the opening period. Tenisha Perry scored the only two points for Bullock County and cut the score to 4-2. From there, it was all Smith who had two baskets including a three-pointer and a free throw. Straughn led 10-2 at the end of one.

The Lady Hornets fought their way back in the game with the first seven points of the second period. Arianna Greene had the first of her two baskets before Shadereka Cobb scored five points and made the score 10-9. Rylee Sanders then made a bucket, and Smith hit two free throws pushing the lead back to five. Baida Canant converted a three-point play for a 17-9 lead with 2:25 left in the first half. Greene’s second basket and two foul shots by Perry made the game close again as the Lady Tigers led 17-13 at halftime.

Straughn regained some breathing room with a 10-point third period. Smith had a three-pointer and scored five in the frame. Annlee Wise also found the hoop twice, while Canant went one-for-two at the foul line. Makayla Tarver made the only basket for Bullock County, and the score stood at 27-15 at the end of three.

Wise heated up in the final period with eight points including a pair of deep threes for the Lady Tigers. Smith added her third three-pointer of the night, and Mallory Davis capped the scoring with a late basket off the bench. Tarver once again was the only Lady Hornet to score.

Smith finished with a team-leading 18 points for Straughn as Wise followed with 12. Cobb led Bullock County with five points, while Perry, Greene, and Tarver each had four.

Straughn 41, Bullock County 29
The Tigers (10-13, 3-1 4A Area 4) rallied seven down at halftime and avenged an earlier loss to the Hornets (3-12, 3-1) for a 41-29 win in the varsity boys’ game.

Straughn drew even with Bullock County for first place in the area standings with four area games left.

Devin Davis and Thomas Davis gave the visitors an early 4-0 lead with consecutive baskets. Clark Jordan and Noah Fowler followed suit as the Tigers evened the score at 4-4. Clark Gay made two free throws with less than a minute to go. A late bucket from T. Davis put the Hornets in front 8-6 at the end of the first period.

The two sides continued to trade buckets in the second period. Straughn reclaimed a 13-12 lead with 4:35 to go in the first half after Saxby Radford found the hoop twice. Anthony Simpson responded by making consecutive three-pointers and finished with eight points in the frame. Jaden Taylor and Jedarian Robbins also scored to give Bullock County a 20-13 lead at halftime.

Ace Carter started the second half with a three-pointer, while Radford chipped in a bucket and closed the gap to 20-18. The Hornets kept their lead until Radford made two more baskets and tied the score at 22-22 with 3:24 left in the third period. D. Davis and Simpson then answered with two shots for a 26-22 lead. Joseph Driver connected for back-to-back threes and gave the Tigers a 28-26 lead at the end of three.

The Hornets then went ice cold from the floor despite several shot attempts in the final period. Driver began an eight-point swing for the Tigers with two foul shots. Fowler and Jordan each scored a basket as Charlie Jordan found the hoop and stretched the lead to 36-26. Taylor broke the scoreless drought with a three-point play as 2:09 remained in the game, but those were the only points the visitors could manage. Jordan added three more in the closing minutes, and Driver had two more free throws to finish off the huge area win.

Radford and Driver paced Straughn with 10 points each. Jordan and Fowler followed with seven apiece. Simpson had 12 for Bullock County.

Straughn will continue area play at New Brockton on Tuesday, Jan. 14, and again at home against rival Opp on Friday, Jan. 17.