BULLDOGS BURY TIGERS: Andy blows out Straughn for shot at tourney title
Published 12:05 am Saturday, December 17, 2016
- The Straughn Tigers had no answers for Jaden Brown and the Andalusia Bulldog defense in Friday’s tournament semi-final contest. Josh Dutton/Star-News
The No. 2-ranked Andalusia Bulldogs came out firing on all cylinders as they whipped the No. 9-ranked Straughn Tigers 52-22 Friday night in the second round of the 50th Annual Andalusia Christmas Invitational Tournament.
Andalusia’s R.J. Drish felt the hot hand early as he buried a 3-pointer to put the Bulldogs out front.
The Bulldogs created a quick turnover on the other end and then B.J. Anderson powered through the lane with a layup.
It was more success for the Bulldog defense on the Tiger side of the court as Andalusia came up with another turnover.
Ke’Shun Townsend brought the ball up the court and dished it off to Trey Wilkerson who finished it with a layup.
Andalusia’s defense continued to cause trouble for the Tigers as Anderson swiped the ball and raced down the court.
On the other end of the floor, Anderson soared up for a big-time slam dunk.
Straughn continued to bring the ball up the court and the Bulldogs continued to deny the Tigers any chance at hitting a bucket.
Following a missed bucket from Straughn, Drish got a layup to put the Bulldogs on top 11-0.
Moments later, the crowd was electrified as Wilkerson punished the rim with a massive two-hand jam.
Allan George then buried a 3-pointer that had the Bulldogs on top 16-0.
The Tigers were finally able to knock the scoring monkey off their back as Keaun Samuel dropped in a pair of layups to leave Straughn trailing 18-4 heading into the second period.
Andalusia got things started with a pair of free throws from Drish to give the Bulldogs a 20-4 advantage.
The Bulldog defense continued to be too fast and strong for Tigers to get anything going in the second period.
Every time the Tigers got the ball, a Bulldog defender would be right there waiting for the first chance to get the swipe.
The Tigers got one good look a basket in the second period and it came on free throw attempt, but even that wouldn’t fall Straughn’s way.
Andalusia’s offense also continued a strong effort with a layup from Jaden Brown to put the Bulldogs on top 22-4.
The lead kept rising for the Bulldogs with a 3-pointer from the top of the key.
Adam Peek got into the scoring action for the Bulldogs with a powerful drive through the lane for a layup.
Brown capped off the scoring in the first half with a layup.
At halftime, the Bulldogs held a 29-4 lead.
Andalusia came out in the third period with a free throw from Drish to make it 30-4.
Drish stayed hot with 3-pointer to stretch the Bulldog lead out to 33-4.
On the other end of the court, the Bulldog defense went back to work with a huge blocked shot from Wilkerson that sent the ball sailing out of play.
Moments later, Straughn snapped 13-minute scoreless streak with a pair of layups from Samuel.
Samuel kept working hard and tried to carry the Tigers on his back, but the Bulldogs just weren’t going to let that happen.
The Bulldogs pushed the lead up to 38-6 before the Tigers found another basket.
The Tigers then went on a semi-scoring frenzy with back-to-back buckets from Trystian Barber and Taylor Rhudy.
Andalusia answered back with a strong baseline drive from Roosevelt Weaver to make it 40-10.
Straughn kept it from being a running clock in the whole fourth period as Barber knocked down a 3-pointer to end the third.
The running clock, however, quickly came into effect when the Bulldogs went back up by 30.
“I really felt like we played better tonight,” Andalusia head coach Anthony Clark said. “Our defense played great and only allowed them to two baskets in the first half. It was good to get every one in tonight and have them contribute because we are going to need all the fresh legs when can tomorrow.”
With the win, the Bulldogs move into the championship game at 7:30 tonight against Class 1A’s No.3-ranked Georgiana Panthers (6-0) .
Straughn will take on Class 5A Greenville for the third place game tonight at 6 p.m.