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Straughn gave a valiant effort before Hillcrest-Evergreen broke away in the fourth period for a 66-52 win in the opening round of the Richard Robertson Christmas Tournament on Thursday, Dec. 12.

The Tigers fell to 4-9 on the season, while the Jaguars improved to 8-3 for the year.

Both teams put on a scoring clinic in the first period. Jontavius Lett started with a three-pointer for the opposition before Clark Jordan answered with a layup. J.T. Barlow stretched the score to 5-2 with a bucket, but Straughn went on an 11-0 run. Joseph Driver and Ace Carter hit three-pointers for a 12-5 lead. Jordan capped the offensive surge with a free throw and had nine points in the period. Hillcrest battled back behind a run of its own paced by Lett’s 11 points and had a 21-17 lead after one.

The Jaguars then took control with 19 points in the second period and saw the defense hold to only six points. Dorian Watson earned nine in the period, while Barlow grabbed six more. Driver made another three-pointer as Jordan found the basket again. Hunter McBride went one-of-two at the line, but the Tigers trailed 40-23 at halftime.

Straughn refused to back down and came out firing in the second half. Driver, Carter, and Noah Fowler all made three-pointers during a 19-point swing, while Charlie Jordan also found the hoop. Fowler collected five and was followed by Driver at four in the third. Barlow and Jamir Sharpe each posted eight in the period as Hillcrest held a 50-40 lead after three.

Carter began the final period with a layup and tied for the team lead with Driver at five points in the fourth. The Tigers got within eight but could not draw closer the rest of the way. The Jaguars had a balanced effort with seven different players finding the basket in the period. Lett was the leading scorer in the period with five.

Three Straughn players finished in double digits led by Driver who had 15 points. Carter was next with 14, and Jordan had 13. Barlow paced Hillcrest with 23 points in the win as Lett notched 13 and Watson had 11.

In other opening round action, Opp defeated Red Level, 70-29, and Georgiana defeated Monroe County, 75-50. Andalusia defeated Georgiana, 49-35, in a girls’ game.

Straughn will play the Red Level-Monroe County winner in the fifth place game on Saturday, Dec. 14, at 5 p.m. Hillcrest takes on Georgiana in the tournament semi-finals Friday, Dec. 13, at 6:30 p.m.