Straughn closes season with South Regional semi-final loss to Orange Beach

Straughn led early before Orange Beach took control in the fourth for a 40-32 win in a 4A girls’ South Regional semi-final game at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery on Wednesday, Feb. 12.

The Lady Tigers finished the season with a 19-6 record, while the Lady Makos advanced to the South Regional championship at 12-20.

“We came up short in our game against Orange Beach, but this team has every reason to hold their heads high. We lost an entire starting five before this season, and while we may be young, we achieved a lot that many probably didn’t expect: winning the area, making our third consecutive Sweet 16 appearance, and finishing with 19 wins. Although the season ended sooner than we hoped, we still had a lot of success,” SHS Head Coach Calen Lowery said.

Neither side could connect from the floor early on. Jayde Palmer got the scoring underway with a free throw. Blakeley Smith answered with back-to-back baskets for a 4-1 lead. Evia Spencer drew Orange Beach back even at 4-4 with a bucket and foul shot. Smith then knocked down a deep three-pointer followed by another basket for a 9-4 lead. Presley Bates found the hoop as Straughn took an 11-6 lead at the end of the first period.

Smith began the second period with another three for an eight-point lead, but the Lady Tigers fell into a cold spell. Meanwhile, the Lady Makos heated up and began fighting back with an 11-point swing. Four points from Monroe Richtmyer and four by Spencer forced a 14-14 tie with 2:44 left in the first half. Addison Davis gave the opposition a short-lived 17-14 lead less than 30 seconds to go. Bates repeated the feat as the game went into the break locked in a 17-17 tie.

Annlee Wise opened the second half with authority and connected from long range twice. After Wise made another bucket for a 25-19 lead at the 4:12 mark, Straughn was unable to score again in the frame. Palmer scored five straight and cut the deficit to 25-24. Richtmyer then sank a three and capped the scoring to lift Orange Beach to a 27-25 lead at the end of the third period.

Palmer picked up where she left off with the initial four points of the final period for a 31-25 lead. Wise trimmed the deficit back to four with a bucket, and Hannah Poston took the score to 33-29 with 4:47 left in the game. The Lady Makos stayed ahead with four of the next five points. Alcee Radford went one-for-two at the line and made the score 36-30 with 1:02 to go. Wise earned two free throws and brought the Lady Tigers within five at 37-32, but three foul shots by Palmer closed out the game.

Smith and Wise tied for the Straughn lead with 12 points each as Bates added five. Palmer led Orange Beach with 15 points followed by Richtymer at 14.

“It was a tough loss, but we played with confidence instead of playing with fear. That’s a step in the right direction considering how hard it is to play on that court. Orange Beach was a tough opponent, but no matter the outcome, I’m incredibly proud of my girls and everything they accomplished this season,” Lowery said.