By Kevin Eckleberry

kevin.eckleberry@lagrangenews.com

Clinging to a one-point lead, the Troup Lady Tigers broke open a close game in the third quarter on the way to a 39-25 home win over Cartersville on Monday.

Troup outscored Cartersville 11-2 in the third quarter to turn a competitive game into a blowout.

It was a critical win for the Lady Tigers, who improved to 4-3 in Region 5-AAAA to remain in fourth place with five games remaining, beginning with Friday’s home showdown against LaGrange.

Jedda Madden had a big night for Troup with 17 points, and Kiya Fulton contributed eight points.

Cartersville led 9-7 after the first quarter, and Troup was ahead 17-16 at the half, so it was anybody’s game.

“The main thing (for the second half) was play more as a team on the defensive end, and the offensive end, just talk and communicate,” Troup head coach Carla Thornton said.

The Lady Tigers took control in the third quarter.

A Fulton basket early in the second half started a 9-0 run that ended with a Valerie Smith basket that gave Troup a 26-16 lead.

After Cartersville scored its first points of the second half on a basket with 1:20 to play in the third quarter, Fulton drove to the basket and scored to put Troup back on top by 10.

Cartersville got as close as eight in the fourth quarter before Madden scored with 5:10 to play to put Troup ahead 34-24.

Troup’s lead was at least 10 points the rest of the way.

After Friday’s home showdown with LaGrange, Troup’s final three regular-season games will be on the road leading up to the region tournament.