TIGERS BREAK OUT BROOM: Straughn sweeps Opp in area basketball action

Published 12:05 am Wednesday, January 10, 2018

The Straughn Tigers swept the Opp Bobcats in area basketball action Tuesday night at Straughn High School.

GIRLS

STRAUGHN 50,

OPP 13

In the opening game of the evening, the Straughn Lady Tigers turned up the heat as the knocked off the Lady Bobcats 50-13.

Straughn’s Alyssa Dean had sparks flowing from her fingertips as she buried three 3-pointers in the opening period to give the Lady Tigers a 14-6 lead after one period of play.

The Lady Tigers ramped up the offensive and defensive efforts in the second period as they pulled away for a 31-9 lead at halftime.

Straughn’s prowess continued to show as they held off the Lady Bobcats for a 50-13 victory.

Dean led the Lady Tigers with 18 points in the win.

BOYS

STRAUGHN 32,

OPP 28

In a match were both teams struggled for points, the Straughn Tigers fought off the Bobcats for a 32-28 victory.

“We were able to control the tempo and that was huge for us,” Straughn head coach Bradley Stephens said. “We are finally starting to execute and make shots. That was key for us. It wasn’t pretty but we got it done tonight.”

Opp came out strong with quick buckets from Erik Matthews and Caleb Hinton to put the Bobcats up 6-0.

The Tigers couldn’t buy a bucket from the field as they trailed 8-1 at the end of the first period.

Justin Peeples got things started with a pair of free throws for the Tigers in the second period and then knocked down a 3-pointer to cut the Bobcat lead down to three points.

A few minutes later, Peeples got another 3-pointer and finished the period out with an and-1 to put Straughn on top 13-10 at halftime.

Ethan Baker knotted things up a 13-13 to open the third period, and helped the Bobcats take a 20-19 lead into the final period.

Lane Ballard opened up the scoring in the fourth period to put Opp on top 22-19.

The Tigers came surging back with three-straight baskets from Brandon Hudson to put Straughn up 25-22.

The Bobcats got he deficit back down to one point with a bucket from Javonte Crittenden.

A few minutes later, a basket from Brantley Kelley put the Tigers up 29-24.

Peeples led the Tigers with 15 points in the win and Hudson finished with 11 points.

Hinton led the Bobcats with seven points.