Straughn came away with victories in the seventh grade boys’ and the middle school girls’ game, but it was the Red Level Tigers who picked up a win in the eighth grade contest Monday night in Red Level.

STRAUGHN 37, RED LEVEL 9

(7th grade boys)

 

Straughn took an early lead in the seventh grade boys’ game when Chandler Mitchell grabbed an offensive rebound and then put it back up for two points.

Braxton Brundidge then put Straughn up 6-2 with a put back off an offensive rebound.

The visiting Tigers went up 8-2 when Mitchell went perfect from the charity stripe.

Straughn continued to build its lead in the first period when Tucker Livings nailed a layup with 8 seconds left in the opening period.

Livings came out at the start of the second period and sank a short jumper to give Straughn a 12-2 lead.

Straughn nearly added more points when Bryce Coleman stole the rock from a Red Level player, but was stopped on the fast break attempt.

Red Level began to fight back when Jackson Nearor was fouled and hit 1-of-2 free throws. Nearor was able to grab an offensive rebound an put it back up to trim the score down to 14-5 with four minutes left before half.

Both teams exchanged baskets to close out the half and Straughn held a 16-7 lead heading into the third period.

Brundidge got the scoring started in the third period for Straughn with a score under the basket.

Mitchell increased the Straughn lead to 21-7 when he drained a basket from downtown.

Livings got the final bucket of the third period with a layup to give Straughn a 23-7 lead.

Demetric Toney got the first bucket of the fourth period with a nifty jumper to Straughn on top 25-7. Another layup from Living, and the Straughn lead increased to 27-7.

Nearor got two more points from free throws from Red Level, but four-straight points from Joseph Hammett gave Straughn a 37-9 victory.

Brundidge led the way for Straughn with 8 points and Mitchell finished with 7 points.

Nearor lead Red Level with 5 points. Dylan Browder and Will Foshee each had 2 points for Red Level.

 

STRAUGHN 21, RED LEVEL 9

(Middle school girls)

Straughn came racing out to a quick lead in the middle school girls’ game when Sydney Arnett grabbed an offensive rebound and put back up a mid-ranged jumper to give Straughn a 2-0 lead.

The visiting Lady Tigers then went up 4-0 when Allie Kelley took a pass under the basket and then converted it to two points.

Chelsi Brooks put Straughn up 6-0 after she took and inbound pass from Kylie Wilson and then dropped in a shot from the paint.

A few seconds later, Wilson came up with a steal, but missed the layup following a fast break. Brooks picked up the rebound and put it back up for an 8-0 Straughn lead at the end of the first period.

Red Level began to battled back in the second period and cut the Straughn lead in half.

Olivia Whitfield got the first basket for Red Level after Ashlyn Joyner dished her the rock under the basket.

Joyner capped off the second period scoring with a jumper to cut Straughn’s lead to 8-4.

Brooks got two more points for Straughn off another assist from Wilson to give Straughn a 12-4 lead with five minutes left in the third period.

Red Level responded when Zy McClain stole the rock and then converted the fast break attempt with a layup.

Brooks got another rebound a few plays later and converted another layup to give Straughn a 14-6 lead.

Straughn closed out the scoring in the third period when Kelley drained a 3-pointer to give the visiting Tigers a 17-6 lead heading into the final period.

Both teams continued to battle in the fourth period, but it was Straughn who came away with a 21-9 victory when the final buzzer sounded.

Joyner led Red Level with 4 points and McClain finished with 3 points.

“We played hard, but their press kept us off balanced,” Red Level head coach Alan Catrett said. “We are showing some improvement, though.”

Brooks led the way for Straughn with 10 points, and Kelley finished the evening with 9 points.

“Our defense has played well all year,” Straughn head coach Scott Kinsaul said. “I like the hustle and the effort that I have seen from them. At this age, the main thing you want them to do is to learn. They have done that and they have done everything that I have asked them to do. I’m very proud of them.”

 

RED LEVEL 32, STRAUGHN 23

(8th grade boys)

In the final game of the evening, it was Red Level’s turn to jump out to quick advantage.

The host Tigers’ Matt Coleman won the opening tip and Kade Green quickly converted it into a 2-0 Red Level lead.

Coleman wasted little time scoring on Red Level’s next possession to give his team a 4-0 lead.

A few minutes later, Cody Kelley found the bottom of the net from mid-range to give Red Level an 8-0 lead.

Red Level then took a 10-0 lead on strong drive to the basket from Coleman.

Straughn got on the scoreboard with 45 seconds left in the first period when a powerful move to the basket from Logan Cobb gave the visiting Tigers their first bucket.

Jeremiah Adkison got the scoring started in the second period with a short jumper and trimmed Red Level’s lead to 10-4.

Green wasted no time getting the points back for Red Level as scored less than a minute later.

Two free throws from Chance Russell then put Red Level back up by 10 points.

Straughn began to battle back into the contest following the Russell free throws.

Gabe Dunn started the Straughn rally with a strong drive to the basket and then Noah Fallin hit a fade away 3-pointer to trim the Red Level lead down to 15-10.

Matthew Cook followed with a 3-pointer of his own to cut the lead down to two points.

Grant Glisson was then fouled and hit 1-of-2 free throws to leave Straughn trailing 15-14 at halftime.

Coming out from halftime, Straughn took a 16-15 lead when Adkinson nailed a short jumper.

Red Level took the lead right back on a baseline layup from Russell.

Adkinson grabbed the lead back for Straughn after converting a layup on fast break following a steal.

Russell then turned around a converted a fast break layup to give the lead back again to Red Level.

Russell then extended the lead to 21-18 following two made free throws.

Another third period basket from Russell gave Red Level a 25-20 lead heading into the final period.

Strong efforts down the stretch from Russell and Green allowed the Red Level Tigers to expand their lead in the final period and come away with a 32-23 victory.

Russell led the way for Red Level with 13 points and Green ended the night with 9 points.

“We have to play smarter and take care of the ball,” Catrett said. “There were too many turnovers tonight, but I was proud of them for finding a way to win.”

Dunn led Straughn with 5 points. John McDaniel and Adkinson each had 4 points.