Tempo.

Tempo.

Tempo.

Pleasant Home slowed the game down tonight, but Straughn answered the call as the Tigers prowled to a 40-34 victory over the Eagles.

In their signature slow-down style of play, the Eagles forced the Tigers to play their rules of the court, taking away any sort of fast-paced offense SHS has instilled.

“Their tempo slowed us down,” SHS coach Rusty Andrews said. “The guys did a good job of working to play against more of a slower tempo.”

Straughn led 4-0 early in the first period, but Pleasant Home’s Ty Hammett and Lance Davis helped cut the Tigers’ lead to 6-4.

Brice Scott, who led SHS with 24 points, got a 3-pointer to bring the Tigers’ lead to 9-4.

Hammett later got a put back and Davis answered a drive down the paint to put the score at 9-8 with 3:35 left.

Straughn (18-5) led 15-10 after the first period.

Scott added a trey just before the buzzer to end the second period after draining two free throws to give Straughn a 31-21 lead at the break.

The game kept close during the third period after the start where Davis made two free throws to bring the game to 31-23.

Scott found Rollin Kinsaul on a fast break to put the score at 33-23.

With the ball, Kinsaul passed the ball over his head on the next transition play, where a Tigers teammate picked up the slack for an easy bucket.

The Eagles (16-9) kept the game to within 12 points of the lead during the third period.

Davis added a jumper after a JD Driver miss to put Straughn’s lead back to 10 points.

Davis, who led the Eagles with 18 points, kept the scoring going with an old-fashioned 3-ball play with less than 30 seconds left until the fourth period to put the score at 35-28.

At the buzzer, Scott was fouled outside of the perimeter for a chance at making another three points from the line. He made them and the Tigers led 38-28.

Despite holding the lead, Straughn looked uncomfortable against Pleasant Home’s slow tempo defense.

The Tigers were outscored 6-2 in a fourth period, where they were out of position and gave up turnovers on the offensive end.

“We played about as hard as we can play,” PHS coach Jerry Davis said. “This was a really good game for us to get prepared for our area tournament.

“They’re good, one of the better teams in this area,” he said. “I guess it’s a good thing we don’t have to worry about them (being in Class 1A).”

Scott added five steals; Kinsaul had three steals and three assists; Hobie Hughes scored six points and had five rebounds; and Driver had six points for the Tigers.

Hammett chipped in eight points for the Eagles.

In girls action, the Lady Eagles gave away too many turnovers in a 61-28 loss to Straughn.

The Lady Tigers (27-2) led 18-18 after the first period and 33-15 at halftime.

By the end of the third period, SHS led 46-23.

Brittany Driver led SHS with 24 points. Katelyn Kinsaul also had a great night with 22 points.

“I’m pleased with the way we played,” SHS girls coach Scott Kinsaul said. “I’m proud of the girls and how they’ve worked (this season) and how they’ve represented their families. We can’t wait for Friday.”

Pleasant Home’s Raven Woods scored 13 points.

“You’re not going to win when you have more turnovers than points,” PHS girls coach Kelley Garner said.

In B-team action, the Tigers won 41-19.

Marshall Farley led SHS with 14 points. Jonathan Driver added 10 points.

Straughn’s B-team finished its season with a 14-3 record.

Pleasant Home’s Garrett Barton led the Eagles with five points. Alex Myrick added four points.

Straughn’s boys and girls will be hosting the Class 3A, Area 2 tournament, starting on Friday.

The Tigers face Opp at 8 p.m. in the semifinals on Friday.

The Lady Tigers will play Excel at 6:30 on Friday night.

Pleasant Home plays Kinston at home on Friday at 6:30 p.m. in the semifinals of the Class 1A, Area 2 tournament. The Lady Eagles travel to play Kinston’s girls at 5 p.m. on Thursday at Geneva County in the semifinals of their tournament.