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The Troup boys basketball team moved one step closer to securing a state playoff spot, beating Mary Persons 71-54 in the second round of the Region 2-3A tournament on Monday.

It was all Tigers from the offset. Troup hit four 3-pointers and consistently made their way into the paint in the first quarter to take a 23-10 lead to the second quarter. 

By halftime, Troup had built an insurmountable 42-20 lead. 

With such a large lead the Tigers were able to get some reserves in the game in the second half and preserve their starters as the team will play again on Tuesday in a season-defining back-to-back.

It did not matter who took the court for the Tigers as they built a 63-37 lead heading to the fourth and final quarter. 

A balanced Troup offense saw four players reach double figures in scoring. Gavin Gates led the way with 19 points despite going scoreless in the first quarter. Desmon Cunningham finished with 12 points while Dee Moreland and DeJaylen Campbell had 10 apiece. 

Troup is now 16-7 on the season. The Tigers will now travel across town to rival LaGrange on Tuesday with a spot in the state playoffs and the region tournament semifinals on the line. The winner of that game will lock in a playoff spot while the loser will have to wait and see if they receive an at-large pod to the postseason. 

Troup won at home over the Grangers 60-45 while LaGrange got its revenge at its place later in the season, winning a 63-60 overtime thriller.