By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

The LaGrange Lady Grangers used a suffocating overtime defensive effort to topple Newnan 50-42 in their home opener on Tuesday.

The game was tied 42-42 at the end of regulation, and LaGrange (1-1) outscored Newnan 8-0 in overtime to secure its first win of the season.

Madison Culverson led LaGrange with 20 points, and Zaria Russell added 19 points.

“We went to a man defense in overtime, and we just made everything tough,” LaGrange head coach Stephen Tuck said. “We wanted to make sure we didn’t foul and put them on the free-throw line. We wanted to contest, and make sure we rebound and only give them one shot.”

Newnan tied it late in regulation, and LaGrange was unable to get away a potential game-winning shot.

“We felt we should have won in regulation,” Tuck said. “To be able to flip the script and be able to perform the way we did in overtime, I was proud of the girls.”

Tuck felt that having such a hard-fought game this early in the season is beneficial for the players.

“We have a lot of young girls, a lot of inexperienced girls, so for them to be able to be in that type of game in the beginning of the season and the way they respond, as a coach you’re happy to see that,” Tuck said.

After dropping a preseason game to Starr’s Mill and the regular-season opener to Opelika, Tuck was happy to see the team get a win.

“We’ve been talking to them all the time, it’s one thing to keep telling your girls how close they are to winning, and it’s another thing to get a win,” Tuck said.

In the boys’ game, LaGrange was playing its regular-season opener, and it didn’t go well for the home team.

Newnan was in control from the start, and it won 57-31.