Girls' varsity basketball - catch the excitement.

Yes, a varsity girls' basketball game can be more exciting and entertaining than a varsity boys' contest that traditionally serves as the final game of the night at high school gymnasiums across the nation.

Last night, fans who came early to check out the Andalusia Lady Bulldogs battle the Dothan Lady Tigers witnessed a hard-fought game with Dothan earning a 56-54 win in double overtime.

The game was a slow-scoring affair, but the crowd grew excited at the end of regulation, at the end of the first overtime and again at the very end with Andalusia coming up just short.

The Lady Tigers fell behind the Lady Bulldogs 8-5 in the first quarter and trailed 18-11 at the halftime intermission.

In the second half, the Dothan players came out inspired and put together a 22-11 run in the third quarter to stake claim to a 33-29 lead.

Andalusia won the fourth period and held a 39-37 lead with a little more than minute left in regulation.

The Lady Tigers knotted the score at 39-39 with 1:17 left to play in the game when Ivey Turner scored.

Neither team scored in the final minute with Dothan getting the ball back and running the clock down before missing at the horn.

In the first overtime, Dothan held a 50-46 lead with 25 seconds left in the extra frame.

The Lady Bulldogs refused to surrender and scored 4 unanswered points in 10 seconds to tie the game up at 50-50.

Ashley Johnson scored all 4 points. She scored with 10 seconds left and then stole the inbounds pass and scored with 1.8 seconds to tie the game and send it into double overtime.

Andalusia had a 54-50 lead with 1:04 left in the second extra period before the Lady Tigers rallied to record a 56-54 win.

Whitney Walker made two clutch free throws with 37 seconds left in the game to give the Lady Tigers a 56-54 lead.

Tanesha Wright was the leading scorer for Andalusia with 16 points. Johnson had 10. Apri Kilgore had 9. Jermicia McNeil hit for 8. Kathy Crittenden scored 5 points. Ann Huff had 4 points.

Dothan won the varsity boys' game by a final score of 64-42.

Brandon Wilson was the leading scorer for Andalusia with 19 points. Lance Evans and Andrae Wright had 6 each. Christian Goldsmith scored 5 points. Josh Johnson had 3. Andrew McTyere hit for 2. Michael McTyere had 1.

Andalusia lost the B-team game, 48-22. Cherno Bah had 8 points. O'Darrius James had 7. William Alverson scored 5 points. Kevin Huff had 2.

Andalusia hosts the Gulf Shores Dolphins today beginning with a B-team game at 4:30 p.m.