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By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

The Troup Tigers opened their Region 2-AAAA schedule with a hard-fought 77-71 home loss to Hardaway on Friday night.

The Tigers, facing a nine-point deficit, made a charge at the start of the fourth quarter to get within three.

After Jaylen Young made a pair of free throws, Mon Woodard knocked down back-to-back 3-pointers to cut the Hawks’ lead to 53-50 with 5:50 to play.

The Tigers kept it close the rest of the way, but it was the Hawks hanging on for the road win.

Senior post player Gabe Stepp had a big game for the Tigers with 14 points and 10 rebounds, and Woodard also had 14 points while making four 3-pointers.

Ricco Person contributed 13 points, and KJ Tucker and Jaylen Young added nine points apiece.

The Tigers came out strong, with a Woodard 3-pointer in the closing moments of the first quarter giving the home team a 15-9 lead.

The game swung in Hardaway’s favor in the second quarter.

The Hawks started the second quarter on a 17-0 run to take a 26-15 lead, and they were ahead by as many as 12 points before the Tigers closed the half on a 6-0 run to make it a 35-29 game.

The Hawks maintained their advantage in the third quarter, and by the time the final quarter rolled around they had a 51-42 lead.

Thanks to Woodard’s sharp-shooting the Tigers got within three in the fourth quarter before the Hawks went on an 11-3 run to regain control.

The Tigers didn’t come any closer than six points the rest of the way.

Troup will host Spencer on Tuesday.