Andalusia wins close battles against Straughn; Lady Bulldogs win on final-second free throw

Both the boys’ and girls’ games were a tight affair when Andalusia made the short road trip north to Straughn Tuesday night.

The Lady Bulldogs overcame a comeback by the Lady Tigers, earning a one-point victory, 35-34, on a free throw with .3 remaining on the clock.

In the boys’ game, Straughn kept things close with the Bulldogs throughout, but ultimately fell by a final score of 49-37.

Lady Bulldogs 35, Lady Tigers 34
The Lady Tigers were down by 15 to the Lady Bulldogs as the teams approached halftime. But, Straughn steadily began a comeback and had the game tied in the final seconds before Kelsie Horwath hit a free throw with .3 remaining on the clock to secure the victory for Andalusia, 35-34.

Andalusia held most of Straughn’s shooters scoreless through the first, but could not contain Annlee Wise who had all of the Lady Tigers’ points in the period with six. On the offensive side, the Lady Bulldogs had scores from five players to take a 10-6 edge.

Andalusia stretched its lead in the second period outscoring the Lady Tigers 12-4 to take a 22-10 lead into the half.

Straughn found its offensive spark in the second half. Led by two three-pointers by Blakeley Smith in the third period, the Lady Tigers made up some ground, but still trailed the Lady Bulldogs 27-21 as they entered the final period.

Straughn made a charge down the stretch with six points by Rylee Sanders and five, including a three, from Wise, to tie the game at 34 with 54 seconds remaining. The score did not change until a foul sent Horwath to the free throw line where she hit the second of two shots to make the score 35-34. A desperate beyond half-court shot by Straughn fell short of the goal to end the game.

Leading Andalusia in the win was Kionni Wright with 10 points and Destini Hourel added seven. Jaidyn Berry and Horwath each finished with six.

All of the Lady Tigers’ offense was produced by three players. Wise led the team with 13 points with Sanders adding 12. Smith finished with nine points.

The win lifts the Lady Bulldogs to 4-1. They will host Monroe County on Saturday, Dec. 14.

The Lady Tigers drop to 5-3 and will travel to Georgiana on Monday, Dec. 16.

Andalusia 49, Straughn 37
Andalusia jumped out to a quick lead over Straughn only to see the Tigers make a comeback to go ahead. But, the Bulldog offense and defense stepped up in the final period to bring home a 49-37 victory.

With four three-pointers — two by Nashaun Wilson and others by Cadariyus Love and Laeton Smith — the Bulldogs jumped out to a 16-8 lead by the end of the first period.

Straughn made up some ground in the second with Clark Jordan notching six points and a three-pointer by Joseph Driver, bringing the Tigers to within two points of the Bulldogs at halftime, 22-20.

The Tigers continued on its comeback pace and surpassed it, taking a 31-28 lead with less than two minutes to go in the third period. Jordan led the charge with eight points in the period.

In the fourth, the Bulldogs stiffened, holding the Tigers to only four points. Meanwhile, Jaquez McMeans was good for six points for the Bulldogs while Xavier Hourel made the Tigers pay at the line, going 9-for-11 at the free throw line, lifting Andalusia to a 49-37 victory.

Love led the Bulldogs with 15 points and Hourel added 11. Calvin Daniel, McMeans and Wilson each finished with six points.

Jordan led the Tigers with 16 points and Driver added nine.

The win lifts the Bulldogs to a 2-2 record on the season with its next game at New Brockton on Monday, Dec. 16.

Straughn falls to 4-8 and continues play in the Richard Robertson Christmas Tournament at Andalusia before a visit to Georgiana on Monday, Dec. 16.