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By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

The Troup Lady Tigers made easy work of Lanett on Tuesday in their home opener.

After dropping two hard-fought games to state powerhouses Langston Hughes and Collins Hill last week, Troup overwhelmed Lanett 57-24 to get their first win of the season.

The game was still somewhat in doubt early in the second half, but Troup finished the third quarter on a 19-0 run to put it away.

Aniya Palmer and Angie Dowdell each scored 11 points to lead Troup, and Samarria Weldon and Alexcia Murphy added nine and eight points, respectively.

It was Troup’s best offensive

output of the young season, and head coach Carla Thornton was pleased with that aspect of the game.

“That was our main focus,” Thornton said. “We felt like we didn’t have good offense the last two games. Today, we wanted to fine-tune that a little bit, and get some different looks, and get some different people involved.”

Troup is coming off the best season in the history of the program.

Troup only lost two games all season, and one of those losses came to Americus-Sumter in the Class AAAA state-championship game.

While most of the key players from that team have returned, Troup is having to play with Amber Gilbert, who was a four-year starter and the leading scorer the past few seasons.

“She was the leader,” Thornton said. “She told everybody where to be on defense, what to do on offense. That’s a huge loss. So we have the physical talent, and the intangible things will come.”

Troup led 12-3 after the first quarter, and it was ahead 24-9 at the half.

Troup was a bit sluggish offensively early in the second half, but a Murphy basket jump-started a 19-0 run that gave Troup a 46-13 lead through three quarters.

With the game in hand, Thornton was able to get every player who was available some time on the court.