Tonight, the Straughn Tigers and Pleasant Home Eagles will come together to play in what could be a “classic.”

It is a significant game for Straughn’s basketball program. First, it’s the start of the Tigers’ 2009-10 season; and second, Straughn coach Todd Reynolds will be vying for his 100th win as a basketball coach.

“As much as I would love for that to be on the front burner, my first goal is to get these guys over the hump and start the season,” Reynolds said.

Reynolds said the key to tonight’s game would be “experience.”

“We’re going to be playing a team that has already play at least three games,” Reynolds said. “There is no way I could simulate a real game atmosphere. That has to take care of itself.

“That’s what is going to be key (tonight),” he said. “It’s how well we deal with that situation.”

Both teams have different offensive schemes that they will run.

Pleasant Home takes a lot of its shots on the perimeter and Straughn likes to “pound the ball inside,” Reynolds said.

“It’s basically going to be a classic battle of styles,” Reynolds said. “(Pleasant Home coach Jerry Davis) will want to speed it up because he will keep the tempo up to give him the advantage.

“I don’t mind that pace, but I’ll probably be more inclined to pound it inside,” he said. “So, it’s going to be a classic battle of outside shooting versus pounding the ball inside.”

The last time that Straughn and Pleasant Home played against each other was on Jan. 28.

At the buzzer, Pleasant Home’s Colter Poole hit a 3-pointer to send his team into overtime, where they got the 47-41 win.

“We’re going to try and return the favor of course,” Reynolds said.

Tonight’s game will be in Pleasant Home (2-1) and will start after the girls varsity game.

Reynolds said his team’s main goal at the start of the season is to get better each game.

“The main point to be made is that our margin to get better is much greater than (Pleasant Home’s),” he said. “The reason is that they have already has played three to four games. There will be a tremendous difference on how we play (tonight) versus how we play in our tournament next weekend.

“So, my goal is to get the players on all cylinders, hopefully as soon as possible,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it and the players are looking forward to it and everybody’s ready to go.”

Pleasant Home coach Jerry Davis was not available for comment as of press time Monday.