Despite facing a tough girls bracket at the 12th annual Red Level Invitational Christmas tournament, Andalusia coach Bennie Shellhouse said his team will be ready for what lies ahead.

The Lady Bulldogs join an eight-team field including Paxton (Fla.), Straughn, Loveless Academy Magnet Program (Montgomery), Brantley, Elba, Highland Home and Red Level.

Last season, the Lady Bulldogs (7-4) won the Red Level tournament.

Shellhouse said he expects his team to do well on the defensive side of the ball.

“We’ve worked hard defensively the last couple of days (Monday and Tuesday),” he said. “I think we’re going to be ready on that side of the ball.”

Andalusia will open the tournament playing against Paxton on Mon., Dec. 28, at 10:30 a.m.

“Right now, we’re just trying to prepare for a team that we don’t know anything about,” Shellhouse said. “I know the tradition of Paxton and what they’re about. They have a dominant basketball program for boys and girls. I just know that they play a different style of basketball than what we play here in Alabama.”

On the offensive side of the ball, Shellhouse said his team will be able to win if they keep it close.

“We create a lot of our offense off our defensive plays,” he said. “If we can score 40 and they score 39, then we’ll win. Most of the time that comes from good defense. We’re hoping to be patient on the offensive side.”

Shellhouse said this tournament will be a good way for the Lady Bulldogs to get ready for area competition that starts in January.

“It’ll be some good competition for us,” he said. “We’re going to go up and do the best we can and see what happens from there.”