It wasn’t very pretty, but it goes in the “W” column.

 

Andalusia connected on just four of 14 free throws in the final quarter, but managed to hang on for a 56-52 win over the Charles Henderson Trojans here Tuesday night.

 

“It sure wasn’t pretty, not at all,” Bulldog coach Richard Robertson said. “We missed out free throws late in the game and wound up playing right into their hands.”

 

But as has been the case for the Bulldogs, they managed to do what it took to win against another area opponent, keeping their area mark perfect at 4-0.

 

“I have to convince these guys that we have to have five playing at all time on defense and five all the time on offense,” Robertson said. “We are still having trouble with a lack of leadership, and it’s going to kill us one of these nights.”

 

Andalusia would jump out to a quick 6-0 lead with Derek Staley leading the way with four of the six points.

 

But the Trojans would quickly turn that deficit into a big first-quarter lead. John Anderson heated up from the free throw line as he led the Trojans to an 18-9 first-quarter lead.

 

Bu the Bulldogs would work themselves right back into the game in the second quarter of action.

 

Andalusia went on a scoring tear that would give them a 29-25 lead at the end of the first half, out-scoring Troy 20-7 in the second quarter.

 

The third quarter would find both teams scoring at will, but the Trojans, behind Anderson and Kerry Givens, would cut the Bulldogs lead to just one point at 48-47 at the end of the third.

 

In the final quarter of play, Andalusia would go to the free throw line 14 times, but they would only hit on four attempts.

 

But defensively, the Bulldogs were able to get the job done, holding the Trojans to just five points.

 

Andalusia would out-score Troy 8-5 in the final quarter of play to take a 56-52 area win.

 

With the win, Andalusia improved to 9-1 overall, remaining perfect in area play 4-0.

 

Charles Henderson meanwhile, drops to 0-4 in the area with the loss.

 

Andalusia was led in scoring by Derek Staley’s 15-point performance. Darren Sheridan added 13, Quent Crenshaw scored 12 and Anthony Toney chipped in 13 in the winning effort.

 

Anderson and Kerry Givens would lead the Trojans with 14 points each, Anthony Wilson chipped in 11.

 

“Troy has the worst record in the area, but they are young and they are coming,” Robertson said. “I’m just waiting because there are a lot of good basketball teams left on out schedule, and it’s only going to take one bad performance like tonight, and maybe they will learn.”

 

In other action Tuesday night, the Andalusia B-team turned in a winning performance, dropping the Troy B-team 46-33.

 

Lontac Sims led the B-team with 14 points, while LaQuan Chambers chipped in 12 for the Bulldogs.

 

Andalusia will take on Hillcrest Saturday in Evergreen, while the Lady Bulldogs and the ninth-grade boys will play Pleasant Home here Thursday night.

 

Tip-off for the Hillcrest game is scheduled for 5 p.m.