Straughn’s 13-0 run at the start of the third period helped propel the Tigers to a 59-29 season-opening victory over Pleasant Home on Thursday night at their annual Christmas tournament.

More than the majority the Tigers’ points came from behind the arch. SHS drained 10 3-pointers on the night, seven of which came in the second half.

While the second half was the story of the night for SHS, the first half showed the “first-game jitters.”

“In the second half, they came out and played the way they were capable of playing,” SHS coach Rusty Andrews said. “We started rebounding a little bit. We shot a lot better in the second half.”

Most of those shots for the Tigers came off of steals and a quick transition game.

Pleasant Home, who dropped to 3-4 on the season, played a good first half, which was reminiscent of its game at Andalusia at the start of the year, Eagles coach Bradley Stephens said.

The Eagles stayed close with the Tigers in the first period, trading leads. Jon Cole Chesser got a bucket to put PHS ahead 4-2, and Troy Fantroy made a put back to keep his team ahead 10-7.

However, Straughn’s Brennan Maddox drained two 3-pointers in the opening period to give the Tigers a lead change and a tie at 10-all.

JD Driver later got an assist to Devin Scott, who flew into the basket for a layup to give the Tigers a 12-10 advantage after the first period.

Pleasant Home’s Garrett Barton drained a trey in the second period, and Fantroy made three free throws to aid the Eagles’ attack with a 18-16 lead.

Maddox would then shoot his third and final 3-pointer of the night at the end of the first half as the Tigers went to the break ahead 19-18.

Stephens said a big positive for PHS in the first half was its transition game.

“We were getting fast-break layups on their press,” he said. “We didin’t hit them most of the time, but we had fast-break layups.”

Straughn led 32-18 after its 13-0 run to start the third period. The Tigers were led by Brice Scott, who hit two 3-pointers in the run.

Driver later hit back-to-back treys to put the game away at 38-20.

“It just goes back to execution,” Stephens said. “We’re not executing and we’re not winning the turnover battle on a regular basis.”

SHS outscored the Eagles 26-5 in the third period as it took a 45-23 lead.

“I was proud of the effort in the second half,” Andrews said.

Driver led SHS with 19 points. Scott added 18 points as he drained four 3-pointers. Maddox had nine points.

Fantroy led PHS with 11 points. Chesser had seven points.

Pleasant Home plays Georgiana tonight at 6, while Straughn tips off against Red Level at 7:30.