Fighting until the end
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, November 22, 2016
The Andalusia Lady Bulldogs fought will all their might Monday night in the opening round of the 10th annual Straughn Lady Tiger Thanksgiving Tournament, but fell 50-33 to the Daleville Lady Warhawks.
Daleville got the on the board first, but the Lady Bulldogs tied the game 2-2 when Destene Shakespeare put in a bucket off an assist from Aaliyah Lawrence.
The Lady Warhawks then went on top 6-2 before the Lady Bulldogs came roaring back.
Lawrence hit 1-of-2 free throws and then followed up with a 3-pointer to knot the game 6-6 with 2:35 left in the opening period.
The Lady Bulldogs then forced a turnover and Lawrence answered with another 3-pointer to put the Lady Bulldogs on top 9-6.
Andalusia extended the lead on the next trip down the court with jumper from Shakespeare.
Shakespeare then hit a free throw to put the Lady Bulldogs on top 12-7 at the end of the first period.
Daleville came out strong in the second period with a 3-pointer to cut the Lady Bulldog lead down to 12-10.
The Lady Warhawks continued the fast-paced start and went on top 21-12 before the Lady Bulldogs got on the board in the second period.
Taylor Walker picked up an offensive rebound and went back up for the basket, but the Lady Bulldogs trailed 26-14 at halftime.
Alex Crittenden hit on a free throw to start the third period and then a strong layup through traffic from Lawrence cut the Lady Warhawk lead down to 28-17.
The Lady Bulldogs inched closer when Crittenden buried a trey from downtown.
Walker then put the Lady Bulldogs in striking distance with a offensive board and put-back basket. With 2:37 left in the third period, Daleville held a 28-22 lead.
Daleville added a few more points to take a 35-25 lead into the final period.
The Lady Bulldogs continued to scratch-and-claw back into the game, but the Lady Warhawks were able to hold off Andalusia for a 50-33 victory.
“It was really a typical first game,” Andalusia head coach Brad Garner said. “We struggled a little offensively, and we missed some open shots. I saw some good things, but that’s why I like to play these types of tournaments to start the year. We will play three games in two days so that will give us a lot to look at when we get back to school. We aren’t where we want to be, but this is a really good starting point.”
With the loss, the Lady Bulldogs move into the consolation bracket where they will take on the Brantley Lady Bulldogs today at 10 a.m.