The Forrest Lady Rockets kicked off the 2019-2020 campaign with a bang, blowing out Cascade 52-21 in a season opening Hall of Champions contest win at Chapel Hill Tuesday night.

“It's always good to start the season off with a win, I was pleased with our intensity and defense.” Forrest coach Jeremy Jean said. “Offensively I was pleased with everything, we played fast but wasn't in a hurry. That's the type of game that we are wanting to play this year.”

We shared the ball well last night, getting it into the hands of the girl that was hot at the time.

The Lady Rockets were on the gas from the start of the game and never let up, beginning with an Ally Blanton long bomb from the corner, followed by a Jaide Langley missile from the top of the key for a 6-0 lead.

After an Ally Murdock bucket for Cascade, Forrest turned in a stifling defensive effort that led to a multitude of Lady Champion turnovers and a 6-0 run behind four Laura Mealer points and a rebound and put-back by Ally Blanton for a 12-2 lead.

“I am hoping that this team will be able to set the pace of the game with our defense,” Jean said. ”We were able to force them into some turnovers, and came up with some steals early.”

“We just have to do a better job of converting those into points.”

After another Cascade miscue, Shea Lewis scored in the low post for Forrest.

Carissa Curtis, who missed most of last season with an ACL injury, scored her first two points of the season from the free throw line.

“I didn't see her (Curtis) playing timid with the knee,” Jean said. “She was sitting down on defense and moving good.”

“I think that she was so excited to get back into playing, she was shooting a little long. But that will come back after a few games.”

Cascade’s MaKenna Lamb came up with her only bucket of the game before Mealer ended the first quarter with a three-point play the old-fashioned way to give Forrest a 19-5 lead after the first eight minutes.

Abby Luttrell and Ally Blanton traded three-pointers to begin the second period and Cascade scored again to make it a 22-10 contest.

Anna Blanton got in to the act when she made two free throws and then banged home a three-pointer moments later to stretch Forrest’s lead to 17 points.

A Caroline McKamey bucket was the last score in the first half for the Lady Champs as a Curtis steal and dish to Mealer for a basket was followed by two points on another steal and feed to Curtis, who just beat the halftime buzzer with a layup, giving the Lady Rockets a huge 32-12 lead at the break.

Forrest came out of the halftime break looking to put the Lady Champs away and they did, outscoring Cascade 13-6 in the third quarter, accentuated by a late Langley long bomb to make it 45-15 contest, entering the fourth period.

Five points by Alex Davenport and a basket by Ryann Lewis gave Forrest a 7-6 margin in the final period as the Lady Rockets cruised to season opening victory.

“I like this team, they get along and don't care who scores,” Jean said. “They just want to win.”

“I think this team is going to be fun to watch.

“All the girls have worked hard, and it is always good when they can get a chance to play,” Jean said. “They get to feel the speed of the game and the better they can get the better we can get as a whole.”

The Lady Rockets host the Cornersville Lady Bulldogs in an intra-county rivalry contest on Monday.

“We have a good test Saturday with Baylor and Huntland,” Jean said. “Then we get to come home for our last home game until after the New Year.”

Cornersville lost 37-31 to Culleoka in Lady Bulldogs’ head coach Martha Jane McMasters coaching debut Tuesday night at home.

Cascade 5 7 3 6-21

Forrest 19 13 13 7-52

Cascade (21): Maddie Crosslin 5, MaKenna Lamb 4, Abby Littrell 3, Lani Jones 2, Carmen Ray 2, Caroline McKamey 2, Ally Murdock2, Jordan Green 1.

Three-Point Goals (2): Littrell, Crosslin.

Free Throws (1-for-3): Green 1-for-2, Lamb 0-for-1.

Forrest (52): Ally Blanton 13, Laura Mealer 12, Jaide Langley 8, Anna Blanton 6, Alex Davenport 5, Carissa Curtis 4, Ryann Lewis 2, Shea Lewis 2.

Three-Point Goals (7): Ally Blanton 3, Langley 2, Anna Blanton, Davenport.

Free Throws (9-for-13): Mealer 4-for-7, Anna Blanton 3-for-4, Curtis 2-for-2.

Halftime Score: Forrest 32, Cascade 12.