By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

OPELIKA, Ala. – The short-handed Troup Tigers hung tough with Opelika on Monday in their season opener before falling 63-56.

Troup, which was missing six players who are busy with football, got 19 points from Quevo McFarland, and Brandon Smith and Gabriel Cofield added 14 and 13 points, respectively.

“It was a game of runs,” Troup head coach Blake Craft said. “They got up 18, and we’d get within two. We’d go ahead, and they make a run. It was a good basketball game.”

As was the case in Troup’s preseason win over Heard County last week, McFarland and Smith, who are both seniors, led the way in scoring.

“They worked hard in the offseason,” Craft said. “They bought in.”

Troup will make its home debut against McIntosh next Tuesday, with the girls’ game tipping off at 6 p.m., and the boys’ game to follow.

It will be the regular-season debut for the Lady Tigers.