The Pleasant Home Lady Eagles and the Florala Lady Wildcats claimed first round wins in the Class 1A, Area 3 tournament Thursday night at Florala High School.

Pleasant Home played in the first game of the evening and defeated Kinston, 41-21. In the second game, Florala narrowly escaped with a 45-38 victory over McKenzie.

Pleasant Home girls 41, Kinston girls 21

The Lady Eagles started an early attack on Kinston in the first quarter only allowing two points compared to their six.

In the second quarter of the contest, Pleasant Home’s defense kept pressure on Kinston.

“I thought our defense played the best game they’ve played in several ball games,” Pleasant Home coach Kelley Garner said. “They stepped up the level of their defensive play tonight and their aggressiveness.”

The Lady Bulldogs could not get in a good rhythm playing scrappy offense and managing only four points to the Lady Eagles’ 14.

Pleasant Home led 20-6 at halftime.

Pleasant Home (14-10) really stepped up on offense late in the third going on a 7-0 run to outscore Kinston, 13-8.

Leading 33-14 entering the fourth quarter, Pleasant Home kept executing passes under the net to make essential lay ups, which helped out in its win.

“We moved the ball well,” Garner said. “We’ve just been focusing on being more patient and getting a good shot.”

Gina Davis led Pleasant Home with 12 points and Taylor Godwin added 11.

Agee Evans led Kinston with 20 points.

Pleasant Home will play Florala Saturday night in the area tournament championship at 7.

Florala girls 45, McKenzie girls 38

Florala almost lost to No. 4-seeded McKenzie Thursday night, but managed to pull out the win with the help of Mariah Thompson, Brooke Hammonds and Paige Irwin.

Thompson and Hammonds led Florala with 14 points each and Irwin chipped in 12 in the victory.

“I was real proud of our girls,” Florala coach Ronnie Driver said. “We didn’t play a good game, but they played hard. They just sucked it up and played as hard as they could and it paid off for them.”

McKenzie kept the game close throughout the contest outscoring Florala 12-11 in the first quarter.

By halftime, the Lady Wildcats cut into McKenzie’s, lead putting up 10 points compared to McKenzie’s six, and went to the locker room ahead, 21-18.

The second half went just like the first half in terms of scoring.

Florala outscored McKenzie 16-9 in the third quarter, but McKenzie won the last quarter shooting nine points compared to Florala’s eight.

Daizia Womack and Aleshia Stuckey led McKenzie with 14 points each.