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Straughn broke away from a close game in the first half and posted a 66-41 win against Pike County in the 4A Area 4 Girls Tournament semi-finals at home on Saturday, Feb. 1.

The Lady Tigers won their ninth straight game and improved their record to 17-5 on the season. The Lady Bulldogs saw their season come to an end.

Both teams battled each other in the opening period as Blakeley Smith started the game with six consecutive free throws. Jakayla Pierson put Pike County on the board with a three-pointer and closed the deficit to 6-5 with two foul shots at the 2:54 point. Annlee Wise then converted a three-point play, and Baida Canant also found the hoop for an 11-5 lead. Presley Bates followed a Tamieja Taylor free throw with a three-point play and gave Straughn a 16-8 lead. Pierson had five points including another three and cut the gap to 16-13 at the end of the first.

Canant scored the first bucket of the second, and Smith added two more free throws. Bates then extended the margin to 23-14 with 3:54 until halftime. Hannah Poston scored four points, while Bates and Smith each drained a three as the Lady Tigers grabbed a 33-16 lead. Kynthis Jackson responded with back-to-back threes and brought the Lady Bulldogs within 33-23 at halftime.

Wise and Jackson both opened the second half with a basket before Straughn took control. Canant started a 14-point home swing and knocked down a three with 4:08 to go in the frame. Bates and Rylee Sanders followed with back-to-back buckets for a 49-25 lead, but Pike County refused to give in. Pierson had a three and Jo’ceriauna Thomas also scored as Zohee Lucy and Jackson combined on three free throws and made the score 49-33 at the end of the third.

Neither side could get into an offensive rhythm early in the final period. Bates went one-for-two at the foul line with 5:17 remaining in the game before Thomas made two. Sanders scored her second basket as the Lady Tigers had an 11-point surge. Wise tallied three during the run that saw Smith and Poston each grab two. Lucy, Pierson, and Taylor found the hoop for the Lady Bulldogs before Smith hit a three for the final tally.

Smith led Straughn with 20 points and was followed by Bates at 14. Poston notched 10 as Canant and Wise both earned nine. Pierson paced Pike County with 19 points, and Jackson earned seven.

The Lady Tigers will face New Brockton in the area championship game on Tuesday, Feb. 4, at 6 p.m.