Tigers vow return

Turnovers and poor shooting could be blamed for the Tigers dismissal from the AHSAA Regional Final, but experience also played a factor.  The Tigers finished the game shooting 40 percent, but connected for 35% in the first half and 0-7 from beyond the arc.  Another glaring fact in last Saturday's loss was the 25 turnovers. 

Straughn was able to stay close in the first quarter trailing by two points with :04 seconds until Justin Burroughs offensive rebound and tip-in put the Bulldogs up by four (14-10). 

The wheels fell off to start the second quarter with four straight turnovers leading to Clarke County points and a fifteen point advantage (25-10).  Four more second quarter turnovers helped the Bulldogs keep their fifteen point lead at half, 32-17. 

It was a great year for the Tigers and first year head coach Todd Reynolds promised more after the game, "this is a good start.  We'll be back next year and we will do some damage." 

Straughn's road ends in Troy

For the third straight year a Covington County team has made the regional championship only to fall and end their season.  Two years ago Florala was knocked out by JF Shields in Mobile, last season it was Andalusia falling to T.R. Miller 51-43 in the 4A regional title game and this season the Bulldogs of Clarke County ended Straughn's season - 70-45.

The Tigers advanced further than any team in the past 35 years making the Regional title game, but Clarke County was just to powerful this season denying the Tigers an opportunity to make it back to the final four.  1959 - 1973 only two appearances by varsity boys from Straughn in the final four.

Tigers move into Regional Final

Bilyon Jones hit Jakim Felton enroute to a layup and two points to put the Straughn Tigers ahead 2-0 before a packed house of Tiger faithful that made the Thursday morning trip to Troy University.  The Tigers never trailed after Felton's quick two as Straughn went on to a 66-62 semi-final victory over Geneva. 

Geneva followed with a two, but Charles Christopher hit back-to-back three pointers to put the Tigers up by three 8-2 sending the crowd into a frenzy.  Mark Simmons cut the lead in half for the Panthers, but Felton and Jones followed with points from the free throw line giving Straughn a 7 point lead.

Straughn pressure helped Geneva to mental breakdowns that lead to technical fouls and turnovers.  The Panthers had 11 forced turnovers in the first quarter. 

Trevor and Trenton Driver finally got on the board in the final minute of the period as Trevor hit three free throws and Trenton ended the quarter with a layup pushing Straughn's lead, 18-4.

Geneva tried to get things moving in the second quarter finally pushing points on the board, but the Tigers stayed ahead of the pace outscoring the Panthers 14-13 in the second.

Straughn built a thirteen point lead early in the second when Trevor hit the front end of a two shot foul with 6:29 pushing the Tigers up 21-8.  The Panthers fought back and Tony Hutcherson hit a layup at 4:25 that cut Straughn's lead to seven at 24-17.  The Tigers went on a 8-0 run to end the half with the final points coming at 3:35 point when Christopher taking a pass from Felton and laying in two points for a 32-17 advantage.

Geneva fought back in the second half outscoring Straughn 45-34, but still had to much of a deficit to over take the Tigers.  Free throw shooting also cost the Panthers as the Tigers converted 27-38 from the line. 

Christopher lead the Tigers with 18 points and both the Driver appropriately had fourteen in Straughn's semi-final win.  Felton and Jones finished with seven apiece, Mitchell Myers added four and Terrence Bonham added two. 

Straughn maintained a double digit lead in the third period as the Tigers converted seven free throws along the way, but in the fourth the crowd grew extremely tense in the final moments of the game. 

Geneva cut the lead to nine with 6:22 remaining in the game, but a long three pointer by Christopher pushed the Tigers back up by twelve.  The Panthers missed eight straight shots until a Trel Simon tip-in started the comeback at 4:24. 

Both teams traded points keeping the Panthers down by 9 until a David Soles three pointer brought Geneva to within six (61-55) with 1:59 remaining.  The Panthers continued to struggle missing from outside, inside and the free thrown line, but after back and forth scores, Willie Williams hit a three pointer to cut Straughn's lead to four with :45 seconds remaining. 

Mitchell Myers only had four points and all came in the final minute and two with :16 seconds as the Tigers advance on a 66-62 victory over the Geneva Panthers.

Varsity heading to Troy University

You can't argue with results. 

Coach Todd Reynolds has taken a team that finished last season 7-17 with two separate five and seven game losing streaks and now are heading to Troy University two wins away from the 3A Final Four in Birmingham. 

The Tigers started the season with a loss to Florala that could have sent the team reeling, but instead turned the focus of the team back onto the coaching staff.  "You can do what you've been doing and keep losing or listen to what we're trying to teach you"  said Reynolds earlier in the season about the turning point. 

The Tigers went on to win 12 of their next 13 games losing only to Andalusia.  Along the way Straughn won the Red Level Christmas Tournament and hosted their first area championship in their new gym. 

The Tigers will face the Geneva Panthers Thursday Morning in the South Regional Tournament at Troy University and should stand a good chance at winning this contest.  However, the bad news is 3A #4 Clarke County is likely waiting for the Tigers in the Championship game.  Clarke will face LaFayette in the other regional contest at Troy.

Geneva made it to the South Regional defeating Clay County 67-60.  LaFayette defeated Headland 74-63 and Clarke dominated Pike County 78-46.  

Straughn is riding their longest winning streak of the season at 8 games including a revenge win over Florala before the area tourament.

Things are falling into place for the Tigers and four more wins would put a new banner inside a "new gym". 

Lady Tigers end season

Clarke County 61, Straughn 37
The Straughn Lady Tigers exceeded expectations this year, but losing never feels good as the Tigers fall to Clarke County 61-37.  Andrea Sport was the lone senior on a team that could dominate over the coming years for Coach Kinsaul.  Clarke County will face the Headland / Lafayette winner on Thursday at noon.
(pictures below right)

Bulldogs remain unbeaten in area

If preparation is the key to victory - Pike County proved that on Tuesday Night picking up what could have been the area crown along with it.  The Bulldogs defeated Straughn 66-54 to knock the Tigers from the unbeatens in area play.

Bulldogs Coach Aaron Young had Pike County prepared to face Trevor Driver and shut down Straughn in the first quarter taking a 22-14 lead. 

Straughn monuted a comeback in the second quarter, but free throws kept Pike County in the lead 29-27 as the visiting team was 5-6 from the line. 

The second half battle went back and forth as the Tigers kept the game close in the third, but it was Pike County (8-3) that pulled out their seventh win in a row and remained unbeaten in area play. 

Straughn Lady Tigers
"keeps hope alive"

The Straughn Lady Tigers kept their hopes alive for hosting the area tournament with a big win over the Pike County Lady Bulldogs.  Straughn rebounded from a lost last Friday night to area leader Calhoun with a close four point victory over the Bulldogs.

Rachel Driver scored 7 points to lead the Lady Tigers in a close 29-24 victory over Pike County.  Jaqueha Hughes and Tierra Hall's lead all scores with eight points each in the losing effort. 

Tigers improve to 13-2

The Straughn Tigers kept their team turn around moving as they won their first area game under Todd Reynolds.  The Defuniak Springs native coached the Tigers to a 61-42 victory over Elba in his first area game since taking over the Tigers.

The Lady Tigers also improved to 1-0 with a solid 45-29 victory as Coach Kinsaul's squad continues to improved game after game.  

Reynolds talked about his team's success during his first year and his hopes of building for the future as Straughn's head basketball coach on X-View this past Wednesday Night. 

Straughn continued their new style of basketball by working the ball down low into the paint and having "quality" baseline play.  The Tigers opened a ten point lead at half-time and extended it out each trip down the court winning by 19 over the Elba Tigers for their tenth consecutive win. 

Trevor Driver led Straughn with 28 points and Quenton Caldwell posted 11 for Elba.

The Straughn's B-Team boys continued building coach Reynolds future with a 35-23 win over Elba. Caleb Cochran led Straughn with nine points.

Straughn Lady Tigers

The Straughn's Lady Tigers opened area play with a dominating performance over the Elba Tigers and moved to 8-7 on the season and 1-0 in area play.  The Tigers never trailed  after building a 10-6 first quarter advantage and opened up a 26-11 halftime lead.

"I thought we played well tonight," stated Coach Scott Kinsaul to the Andalusia Star after the game. "The girls shot well and defense was good. We are still fouling too much. Our style of defense lends itself to the possibility of fouls, but that is not our problem. We get out of position and then we have to reach to block. Anytime you can win an area game on the road, then it is a good night."

Andrea Sport led Straughn with 11 points and Kaitlynn Wiggins followed with 10, while Leanna Henderson had 11 for Elba.

The Lady Tigers will now face the Brantley Lady Bulldogs on Monday and attempt to pull off an upset in their fourth game against the 1A power. 

Red Level Christmas Tournament

The 10th Annual tournament was a near perfect success as both the Straughn Lady Tigers and the Varsity Boys made it into Championship day winning their first two games.  The Lady Tigers however faced the undefeated Brantley Lady Bulldogs who showed their talent winning the girls bracket.  The Straughn Tigers improved to 12-2, winning their 9th straight and captured their first tournament victory in the Christmas Classic.

Tournament Bracket

JV loses first
Straughn / Dale County in 3A basetball action.

The B-team was handed there first loss of the season by the warriors in a
late game rally.  

Varsity Girls

The girls however played dominating defense holding the
Warriors to only 2 points in the first half. They ended up coming out
with a 63-23 win over Dale County.

Andrea Sport led the way for the tigers with 17 points followed by Kimberly Teel who added 13 for the Tigers.

Varsity

The varsity boys came out to a slow start with the 1st quarter ending for the Warriors, 16-7.  The Tigers however bounced back and were only down by 2 at the half with a score of 21-23. In the second half the Tigers came out to play with Trevor Driver adding the first basket of the half to make the score 23-23. 

Dale County quickly answer to make it a 2 point game once again. Mitchell Myers then drove to the goal and picked up a foul adding the two points to make it a 25-25 game. The Tigers would then pull out to a 36-29 lead to end the 3rd quarter. The Tigers defense continued to pressure the ball in the fourth quarter. Pulling out a 53-43 win over a very talented Dale County High School. Trevor Driver led the way for the Tigers scoring 26 with Bilyon Jones adding 12. Trent Bonham snatched 9 rebounds with Mitchell Myers pulling down 6 boards for the Tigers.

The Warriors were led in scoring by Chris Henderson with 16 points.

The Tigers will travel to New Brockton on Friday and will be looking for their 6th
straight win. The Tigers are 8-2 on the season.

Bulldogs sweep Varsity

The Tigers jumped out early and looked to sweep the boys games with a 12-8 lead, but as he always does veteran coach Richard Robertson made adjustments for the Bulldogs to take a half time advantage 23-17. 

The Bulldogs moved forward in the second half and finished the night with their second consecutive victory, 61-55 over the Tigers.    Nico Johnson led Andalusia with 18 points while Trevor Driver had 12 for the Tigers.

The Straughn Lady Tigers faced the Bulldogs for the second time this season winning the first matchup 39-22 during the Thanksgiving tournament.  This time around provided the same results as the Lady Bulldogs had just to much for the Tigers winning 49-25. 

Tigers sweep New Brockton

The Tigers B-Team extended their undefeated streak to 4-0, while the Varsity boys won their third in a row after losing their opening game to Florala. 

The Junior Varsity boys were lead by Caleb Cochran with twelve points in the 53-22 win over the Gamecocks as Brandon McCarty

LADY TIGERS

The Straughn Lady Tigers jummmmmmmppppppped all over the New Brockton Ladies squad building a 30-point half time lead in route to a 48 point margin win.   the Lady Tigers held a 30-point lead going into halftime and did not relinquish their grip for the rest of the game to win 60-18.

The leading scorers for the Lady Tigers were Andrea Sport with 15 points and Tiffany Freeney with 12 points.

VARSITY BOYS

Straughn Tigers varsity boys had a harder time with a tougher squad than the previous two games, but Coach Todd Reynolds got his team motivated to win their third straight pulling out a close victory 45-38 over the Gamecocks.

The Tigers got out to a slow start early and fell down by eight points at the end of the first quarter, 18-10.  The team shut down New Brockton in the second only allowing four points to take the advantage at half 23-22.

The third period was equal for both teams as each added 12 points for a 35-34 Straughn lead before pulling away in the fourth period. 

The leading scorers for the Tigers were Trevor Driver with 15 points and his brother Trenton with 10 points.

Straughn is hosting Andalusia tonight and tip off for the B-team is at 4:30 p.m.

Tigers win two in a Row
(defeat Red Level)

The Red Level Tigers came out flat and trailed 5 to 12 after the first quarter of play. Trevor Williams would spark the Tiger offense as Williams and DJ Sankey would both contribute to a 25 point second quarter but Red level's defense couldn't completely hold the Straughn Tigers and would still trail 30 to 35 at the half.

Straughn came out hot after half time extending their home lead to nine points and closing down on the 2A Tigers leading 51 to 42.  In the fourth Leonard Palmer got hot and would lead the Red Level boys to tie the game with 4:45 left in the game, but Straughn would pull away in the end and win 70 to 60.

Red Level was led in scoring by DJ Sankey and Leonard Palmer both had 16 points followed by Trevor Williams with 11 points.

Eagles split with Straughn
(Tigers B-team undefeated)

Straughn wins two in 'Rala

 The Wildcats and Tigers clawed out three game in Florala - how would the season opener for the Varsity boys dominated with 16 seniors come out?
STRAUGHN VS. FLORALA     |       pictures - Florala Wildcats

Tigers kick off regular season in Florala

The Straughn Tigers travel to Florala Tuesday night to take on the Wildcats in the regular season opener for both squads.  The Tigers have several returning starters and it has been a long off season for the Driver twins who are anxious to get back on the hardwood.  Florala has several new players for the 2007 season and are anxious to get moving.  

Game time begins at 4:30 with the B-Team followed by Girls and Boys Varsity. 

Straughn Thanksgiving Tournament

The Straughn Tigers started their season  hosting a very successful Thanksgiving Tournament with eight teams competing for one championship.  The Brantley Lady Bulldogs were the successful team that made it through three games...

All Tournament Story
Pictures
TOURNAMENT BRACKET - SCORES