Straughn’s Jacie Williamson hit two free throws with seven seconds left in over time to help lift the Lady Tigers to a 57-55 win over third-ranked Brantley on Tuesday.

Williamson led the No. 9 Lady Tigers with 20 points in her team’s first-round win of the 14th annual Red Level Invitational Christmas Tournament.

With this victory, SHS remains undefeated at 10-0 on the season, and will face rival Andalusia tomorrow at 3 p.m. in the winner’s bracket semifinals.

SHS girls basketball coach Scott Kinsaul said the win was a learning experience for the team.

“We still learned a lot about ourselves (Tuesday),” Kinsaul said. “We beat a very good Brantley team.

“This is what we needed to get ready for area,” he said.

At the end of regulation, the score was 49-49.

Brantley struck first with an inside pass from Dominique Caldwell to Paton Burnett to take a 51-49 lead in over time.

Straughn answered with the front-end of a pair of free throws from Paige Taylor to put the score at 51-50.

The Lady Bulldogs then made it 53-50 on a pair of free shots by Amahni Upshaw.

Taylor then hit another front-end shot of free throws to cut Brantley’s lead by two at 53-51.

BHS took a four-point lead on another pair of free throws by Lady Bulldogs’ guard Erica Daniels.

The Lady Tigers tied the game up at 55-55 on consecutive steals and easy lay ups on transition by Taylor to Williamson, and Katelyn Kinsaul to Janelle Nurse, all with less than a minute remaining in the contest.

SHS took a time out to regroup, and immediately got the ball back on a back-court violation by BHS with 25.8 seconds left.

On the inbounds play, Nurse passed to Williamson, who was fouled at half court to spawn the go-ahead and game-winning pair of free throws.

“I told them in the huddle, if something opened up, just to attack the basket and see if we can get back to the free throw line,” Kinsaul said about the foul on Williamson. “She did what she was supposed to do and made the free throws.”

For the game, the Lady Tigers were 50 percent (21-of-32) from the free-throw line.

Brittany Driver, who fouled out late in the fourth period, chipped in 18 points for SHS. Kinsaul added 11 points.

The game was close to the very end for both teams.

The Lady Tigers and Lady Bulldogs would answer each score with a bucket or free shots.

Straughn led 12-9 at the end of the first period, and 25-18 at halftime.

Williamson hit two 3-pointers in the third period to help the Lady Tigers take a 31-24 lead.

However, the Lady Bulldogs answered with a 5-0 run to tie the game at 31-31 with 3:18 left in the third period.

BHS took its first lead of the game on a pair of free throws from Daniels.

After a time out, the Lady Tigers came out and tied the game on two free throws by Driver.

After tying the game at 35-each, the Lady Tigers took a 1-point lead on the back-end of a pair from Kimmie Jones to end the third period.

Brantley led 42-38 and 45-40 with less than four minutes remaining in the fourth.

SHS cut the game to 45-42 on a pair of free throws by Driver, and trailed 45-43 on the front-end of a pair from Taylor.

Brantley led 47-43 for just a short time until Driver nailed a 3-pointer with 36.6 seconds left to cut the game back to one.

SHS led 48-47 on a pair from Kinsaul, and BHS took a 49-48 lead on another pair of free throws.

With 12.4 seconds left, Williamson managed to tie the game up on another front-end free throw.

Straughn boys 57, McKenzie boys 32

SHS allowed four points in the first period and went on to cruise to a 57-32 win over McKenzie in the first round of the RLS tournament.

“When we don’t turn the ball over, and we play basketball, we can play with anybody on our schedule,” SHS head boys basketball coach Rusty Andrews said.

SHS was led by Hobie Hughes, who had 24 points. Hughes was on the receiving end of many passes from Avery and JD Driver, who had 13 and 9 points, respectively.

SHS led 10-4 at the end of the first period, and 27-14 at halftime.

The Tigers never gave up the lead in the third period, despite a 6-0 run by McKenzie.

With a 32-24 lead, the Tigers then went on an 8-0 run to close out any hope for McKenzie to come back.

SHS led 42-26 at the end of the third period, and outscored MHS 15-6 in the fourth for the win.

SHS will face Red Level tomorrow night at 7:30 in the winner’s bracket semifinals.