Straughn girls coach Scott Kinsaul believes that his team will be able to clinch the regular season area title tonight.

The Lady Tigers will hit the road to face Calhoun in their last game of area play.

Last Friday night, Straughn (16-3, 4-1 in Class 3A, Area 3) defeated Calhoun 48-39. Four days later, Straughn beat Luverne 41-32.

“We’ve got a great chance again,” Kinsaul said. “I believe in this team, in what we’ve been doing and what they’ve been doing.”

Kinsaul said the approach his team will take to the game tonight will be similar to Friday night’s match up.

“We’ve got to rebound,” he said. “It’s not the first shot that scares me — it’s the second and third because they can make the basket off of offensive rebounds.

“That’s what always concerns me about (Calhoun), but we’ve worked hard on it and have gotten a little bit better the last couple of games on our rebounding.”

The Lady Tigers will tip off immediately after the B-team game, which starts at 4:30 p.m.

Straughn varsity boys

For the varsity boys team, adjusting to Calhoun’s defense is the main focus in tonight’s game.

“We’re going to try to maintain the tempo because they’re very good at their place,” Straughn boys coach Todd Reynolds said. “We’re going to have to try to keep our wits about us.”

Reynolds said it is a plus to be able to come off his team’s first area win against Luverne earlier in the week. Straughn (6-11, 1-4) beat Luverne, 43-36.

“It’s two-fold,” Reynolds said about leading into tonight’s game. “One, it got the monkey off of our backs; and two, it gives you some kind of momentum going into such a tough game (tonight).”

Another aspect to tonight’s game that Reynolds wants to see happen is for his seniors to step up to the plate.

“We’ve got to have them be mature and deal with their composure,” he said. “That’s another key component. There are no easy games in our area. It’s going to be really hard, so we’ll see.”

Reynolds added that he would like to see a big showing tonight in Calhoun.

“I’d appreciate it if everybody will make it out there to watch us,” he said.