The Pleasant Home Eagles used a strong start and solid finish to top the Florala Wildcats 54-31 Tuesday night in Pleasant Home.

Garrett Barton got the scoring started for the Eagles with a quick layup for a 2-0 lead.

After Robert Scott hit one free throw, Chase Gunter found his stroke from downtown to put the Eagles up 6-0 with 2:10 left in the opening period.

As the first period was winding down, Florala got a big 3-pointer from Trey Burleson, but Gunter responded with a 3-pointer of his own as time expired in the first to put Pleasant Home up 10-3.

Walt Weaver came out firing in the second period and knocked down a 3-pointer to take a 13-3 advantage.

A few minutes later, Pleasant Home went up 20-3 when Hunter Ward spun under the basket and put in touch shot off the glass.

Pleasant Home closed out the scoring in the first half with a layup from Tyler Myrick to put the Eagles up 22-7 at halftime.

Burleson opened up the third period with another big 3-pointer for the Wildcats, but the Eagles responded right back with a 3-pointer from Scott.

Scott quickly followed his first 3-pointer of the game with his second to put the Eagles up 28-10.

The Eagles continued to find the basket, and Burleson accounted for 7 more third period points.

At the end of the third, the Eagles were up 40-17.

Florala continued to battle until the very end, but the Eagles surged to a 54-31 victory.

Scott led the Eagles with 18 points in the win.

“I was happy that we played with a lot of intensity,” Eagles’ head coach Troy Turman said. “We made a lot of good decisions tonight, and we didn’t just settle for a win. We are steadily trying to raise the bar. We aren’t where we need to be yet, but we are getting there. This was a great team win.”

Avery McNeill led the way for the Wildcats with 9 points.

“We did the best we could with what we had,” Florala head coach Troy Stewart said. “The guys did a great job tonight, and they continue to fight as hard as they can regardless of the score. I really respect them for that.”