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While the Straughn Lady Tigers cruised to a victory of the Pleasant Home Lady Eagles, the boys’ teams battled in a close one with the Tigers earning a one-point victory and handing the Eagles its first loss of the season.

Straughn 62

Pleasant Home 61

The Eagles held the lead through the first half, at one point holding a 13-point edge. But, the Tigers managed to stay within striking distance and ultimately a shot by Ace Carter with 17 seconds remaining was the difference as the Tiger defense held the Eagles as the clock expired with Straughn claiming a 62-61 win.

Both teams got off to a fast start from behind the arc with four different Eagles hitting threes and two Tigers, including Joseph Driver with two. Devontae Purifoy, Brady Bryan, J.T. Stockton, and Dillan Purifoy each hit three-pointers, helping lift the Eagles to a 19-13 edge after the first period.

Pleasant Home extended its lead in the second period thanks in large part to John Luke Colvin who was on fire from three-point range, hitting four in the period. Nick Fowler hit two threes in the period for the Tigers to keep the score reasonably close going into the half, 39-30.

Pleasant Home took a 10-point lead with about 5 minutes to go in the third, which is when Straughn began its comeback, outscoring the Eagles 12-2, cutting the lead to only two points, 49-47, as the third period came to an end.

Clark Jordan, who hit several key shots for the Tigers down the stretch, tied the game to open the scoring in  fourth period. His second basket of the period put the Tigers ahead, 52-51.

A basket by Dillan Purifoy put the Eagles back on top, 56-54 with 2:40 remaining. Driver, who started the game with two three-pointers for Straughn, ended the game the same way. His first three-pointer of the fourth lifted Straughn to a 57-56 lead, but Jackson Hawkins answered with a three of his own to, taking the lead back for the Eagles, 59-57 with 1:28 remaining.

Driver’s second three-pointer put the Tigers back on top, 60-59, with 1:14 to go, but the Eagles answered with a bucket by Brady Bryan, taking back a one-point edge for Pleasant Home 36 seconds on the clock.

With 36 seconds to go, Carter hit the basket for the Tigers as Straughn took another one-point lead, 62-61.  The Tiger defense held the Eagles on their final scoring attempt, pulling in a rebound to run out the final seconds and securing the 62-61 victory.

Leading the offense for the Tigers was Clark Jordan with 20 points. Fowler finished with 15 points, including four three-pointers and Driver, who also had four threes, added 14 points.

Colvin led the way for Pleasant Home with 20 points, 18 of those coming from behind the three-point line. Brady Bryan added 13 points for the Eagles and Dillan Purifoy finished with 12.

Straughn (6-11) will travel to Geneva (3-12) on Thursday, Jan. 2 while the Eagles (9-1) will travel to W.S. Neal on Tuesday, Jan. 7.

Lady Eagles 56

Lady Tigers 12

The Lady Tigers pulled away from the Lady Eagles early and rolled to 56-12 victory.

Annlee Wise helped lift Straughn early with a three-pointer and Blakeley Smith added four points in the first period. A couple free throws by Lyla Watson was the only offense for the Lady Eagles in the first period as Straughn took a 15-2 lead after one period.

A total of six Lady Tigers added to the scoreboard in the second period and Wise added three more buckets from beyond the arc. Sophie Geohagan and Smith also hit threes as Straughn scored 25 points in the period to take a commanding 40-4 lead into the half.

Presley Kelley hit two baskets and Chloe Bush added another for the Lady Eagles in the third period. Smith and Presley Bates each hit two baskets for Straughn in the period as the Lady Tigers took a 49-10 lead into the final period and would go on to earn the win over Pleasant Home.

Wise, with four three-pointers, led the Tigers with 20 points. Smith contributed 11 points while Bates and Rylee Sanders each added six.

Kelley and Bush led the Lady Eagles with four points each. J.K. Clark and Lyla Watson each finished with two points.

The Lady Tigers (7-4)  is scheduled to host Laurel Hill on Saturday, Dec. 21.

The Lady Eagles (3-6) will travel to W.S. Neal on Tuesday, Jan. 7.