Victor Smith's Greenville High School varsity basketball team finally tipped off the 2006-07 season Tuesday night at Hillcrest-Evergreen, but the result wasn't what the Tigers were looking for as the Jaguars escaped with the victory over Greenville, 60-57.

Tuesday's game was the first of the season for the Tigers after the opening game was delayed two weeks because of the on-going high school football playoffs.

After trailing by just two points at the half, the Tigers took a four-point lead into the final period but the Jaguars were able to overcome the deficit for the win.

Junior Edward Searight had a chance at the tying basket as time expired, but the shot just missed, sending the Tigers to 0-1 on the season.

&#8220We had the ball in the hands of one of our best shooters (in Searight), but it just rimmed out,” Greenville head coach Victor Smith said.

During Tuesday's game, Searight was the leading scorer for the Tigers with 19 points while junior Darel Carter had 13 points.

Junior Michael Peagler also had nine points while senior Kelcius Pate had six, Wilshad Smith had five and sophomore Andres Gentry had four.

Although the Tigers have not had much playing time, Smith said his team has the potential to do some special things this season.

&#8220If we keep working hard and keep playing together, we have a chance to do some good things this year,” Smith said.

The Tigers return to action Dec. 8 in the season's first area game at home against the Dallas County Hornets.

&#8220(Dallas County) is off to a hot start and it is going to be a test because they have played five or six games and this is just our second game, and it is an area game at that, so it's going to be tough,” Smith said of the Tigers' next opponent.

Games begin at 5 p.m., with the junior varsity teams playing first, followed by the girls and then the varsity boys.