Preview: Straughn Tigers vs. New Brockton Gamecocks
Two dominant guards in Ora Hall and Ariana Smith are getting ready to go toe-to-toe. The Straughn Tigers will take on the New Brockton Gamecocks at 3:00 p.m. on Friday. Each of these teams will be fighting to keep a win streak alive as Straughn comes in on four and New Brockton on 12.
Two teams were on the hunt for playoff glory, but only Straughn walked away with it. They blew past the Eagles, posting a 65-16 victory at home. Straughn's offense stepped up their game for this one, as that was the most points they've scored all season.
It was another big night for Allyx Williamson, who dropped a double-double on 24 points and 18 rebounds. As a matter of fact, that's the most points she has scored all season. Hall was another key contributor, scoring 11 points along with seven assists and six steals.
Meanwhile, it may have taken overtime to finish the job, but New Brockton ultimately got the result they hoped for on Friday. They pulled ahead with a 45-44 photo finish over Mobile Christian.
New Brockton found their leader in underclassman Brittany Williams, who dropped a double-double on ten points and 12 rebounds. Williams hasn't dropped below eight rebounds for three straight games. The team also got some help courtesy of Smith, who scored 13 points along with four steals.
Straughn is on a roll lately: they've won 12 of their last 13 games, which provided a nice bump to their 21-7 record this season. As for New Brockton, their victory was their seventh straight at home, which pushed their record up to 20-5.
This contest is one where the number of possessions is likely to be a big factor: Straughn have been smashing the glass this season, having averaged 34.4 rebounds per game. However, it's not like New Brockton struggles in that department as they've been averaging 38.4 rebounds per game. Given these competing strengths, it'll be interesting to see how their clash plays out.
Straughn strolled past New Brockton in their previous matchup back in December of 2023 by a score of 49-34. One of the biggest obstacles the team faced in that game was Smith, who scored 20 points along with four steals and two blocks. Now that she's got a second chance to win this matchup, will Straughn still be able to contain Smith? Check MaxPreps.com after the match to find out.
