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The Troup boys basketball team earned a crucial region win, and the first under first-year head coach Vasher Hammett, on Saturday, edging out North Clayton 70-58.

It was sweet relief for the Tigers on the second game of a back-to-back after dropping a tight affair 73-67 on the road to region foe Starr’s Mill on Friday.

Jalen Brown put on a clinic, dropping 28 points. He scored from all over the court, connecting on two 3-pointers as well as numerous shots in and around the paint, including a rim-rattling dunk in the fourth quarter. 

After a relatively quiet first half with just six points to his name, Brown came alive in the second half where he scored 22 of his points. 

The Tigers were able to get some early separation, mounting an 18-10 lead by the end of the first quarter. By halftime, the Tigers had stretched that lead out to double figures. 

Troups kept its foot on the gas in the second half in large part due to Brown. 

While Brown had a quiet first half, fellow sophomore Dee Moreland did not. The forward scored 12 of his 16 points in the first half to keep the offense rolling. Point guard DeJaylen Campbell led the offense with aplomb, finishing with 10 points. 

The Eagles went on a run to start the second half, cutting the Troup lead down to as few as four points, but the Tigers rallied and ran away late in the third quarter before sustaining that momentum in the fourth. 

Troup (6-7) is now 1-2 in region play in Region-4A which looks wide open right now. The Tigers will have an important region clash with Whitewater on Tuesday as the season begins to ramp up.