Straughn established a good rhythm offensively and Brice Scott made six 3-pointers as the Tigers defeated Excel 68-46 in area action Friday night.

The Tigers had a slow first half, but led 24-21 at halftime. Scott gave SHS a spark in the third period, draining three treys — one at the end of the period — to give his team a 46-36 edge going into the fourth period.

After his first two 3-pointers in the first half, Scott said it was easy to make the perimeter shots.

“I got into a good rhythm,” Scott, who led the Tigers with 21 points, said. “After I made a couple, then I started feeling it.”

What also helped the Tigers last night was their 2-3 zone defense, which kept the Panthers’ high scorers at bay throughout the night.

SHS coach Rusty Andrews said he thought his team’s pressure got to EHS a bit.

“We finally got into a rhythm,” Andrews said. “We still could not have a good first half. I feel like it’s just because we haven’t had enough practice time, and we’re having to play ourselves.

“Early, for some reason, we’re just struggling shooting the ball,” he said.

Other than Scott, the Tigers had two others to finish in double figures. JD Driver scored 19 points and Rollin Kinsaul chipped in 13.

“That’s what I got to have (to be successful),” Andrews said.

The coach said it’s taken a couple of weeks for Scott to get in good playing shape.

“He’s still working on his shots,” he said. “I think by mid season, he’s going to be fine.”

With this victory, the ninth-ranked Tigers improve to 4-1 overall, and 1-0 in Class 3A, Area 2.

When the third period got going, Excel came out on fire as Rayford Dale, who led the Panthers with 14 points, got a put back to cut the lead to one point after a Straughn turnover.

Scott then answered with his third 3-pointer of the night, giving the Tigers a 27-23 advantage.

The Panthers went on a little 5-0 stretch after a Dale 3-pointer and a Christian Gross drive to the bucket to take their last lead of the game at 28-27.

Again, Scott answered the short rally with a 3-pointer from the arch, causing the crowd to go into a frenzy.

Driver then got an up and under shot, and Kinsaul nailed a trey to give SHS a 35-28 margin with 4:58 left in the third period.

Much of the Tigers’ success last night came with their aggressive play, especially on second and third opportunities.

SHS also moved the ball around well, causing the Panthers’ defense to get a little confused.

EHS cut the game to 37-31 a little later after a trey by Quamie Penn.

Kinsaul then answered after passing to Driver for an easy layin. Kinsaul would then convert off of a steal to put SHS ahead 41-33.

EHS came back with a 3-pointer, but Brennan Maddox made a clean up shot at the rim to keep the Tigers ahead 43-36.

With the buzzer nearing, the ball was put into Scott’s hands at the 2.7 mark, where he drained his fifth 3-pointer from the left side of the arch. The Tigers led 46-36 after the third period.

Scott’s last trey put SHS ahead 50-36..

Tucker Lawless got in on the action, getting a shot in from a Driver pass, and put in two foul shots after getting a rebound with 1:01 left.

To seal out the win, Straughn’s Jordan Walker made a 3-pointer with 40 seconds on the clock.

Straughn’s Devin Scott, who had a good first half, chipped in six points for the Tigers.

SHS led 6-2 early in the first period, and went ahead 9-6 on Scott’s first trey. Devin added a layup for a 11-6 advantage.

EHS came back to tie it at 15-15 in the second, but Kinsaul hit a 3-pointer for a 18-15 lead.

Scott hit his second 3-pointer of the night with 1:33 left in the first half.

Gross added 13 points for EHS.

In B-team action, the Tigers led 20-17 at halftime, and went on to win 42-35.

Allan George led SHS with 16 points. Kevin Heiken and Jonathan Driver chipped in eight points each.

The Lady Tigers went ahead 31-0 en route to a 62-16 area rout.

With this victory, the third-ranked Lady Tigers improve to 7-1 overall, and 1-0 in area play.

SHS led 19-0 after the first period, and 35-4 at halftime in a game where a lot of the younger girls got playing time.

Jacie Williamson led SHS with 20 points. Janelle Nurse chipped in eight points. Harley Adcock had six.

Lele Parker scored six points to lead EHS.

Straughn is back in action tonight in a makeup game at Andalusia. B-team gets underway at 4:30 p.m.