On a team without much experience, the Troup Tigers are going to rely heavily on senior Lakeithin Buckner to lead the way this season.

So far, so good.

Competing in the Lafayette Tipoff Tournament last week in Lafayette, Ala., the Troup Tigers captured the tournament championship, with Buckner coming through in a big way.

Buckner scored 20 points in the tournament opener against Bullock County, and he broke out for 25 points in the championship game, an 81-78 victory over Valley.

It was a nice way for the Tigers, who are rebuilding with just one starter returning, to kick off the season.

“With those young guys playing so hard, we were real pleased,” Troup head coach Thermond Billingslea said. “We had a good time.”

Valley made Troup work for it in the title game.

The Tigers were up 48-36 at the half, and they led 66-52 early in the fourth quarter before Valley came charging back.

The Rams got as close as one point with 28 seconds remaining, but the Tigers were able to make enough plays down the stretch to hang on.

“They caught up, and they probably should have gone ahead, but they didn’t, and we were able to hold on,” Billingslea said.

Billingslea said getting a couple of early-season wins is big for his team.

“It is especially for these guys, because they’re so young,” he said.