It’s a typical practice for Straughn’s varsity boys basketball team.

The Tigers get in a line and run a drill that makes each player move his feet while shooting three shots from the perimeter.

A machine sits at the net, counting whether they made or missed the shots along with how many shots were taken.

The players hate the machine, but the coaches like it because it shows them how much work is required.

SHS coach Rusty Andrews said this season should be a better one than last year, where the Tigers finished in the area tournament, falling to rival Andalusia.

“I miss Avery (Driver) as a shooter, but I think we’ll actually shoot the ball from the outside a little better, which will allow us to open up the inside,” Andrews said.

There will be four seniors on the Tigers’ squad this season.

One senior — Nigel Byrd — is still playing football. The other three seniors on the team are Hoby Hughes, Jasper Bowdoin and Mason Farley.

Andrews said he’ll probably have two seniors, two juniors and one sophomore in his starting group.

This summer, Andrews said the team didn’t have to work as much on plays because the players know his system.

Straughn is in Class 3A, Area 2 with Opp, Southside Selma and Excel this season.

Andrews said he believes the area opponents will be the same as it always has been.

“We just have to be so fundamentally sound to be able to compete,” he said.

Straughn’s first basketball game is dependent on how deep the football team goes in the playoffs.

“We just hope to be competitive this year,” Andrews said.