The Cornersville Lady Bulldogs played on their home court for the first time this season, hosting intra-county rival Forrest on a Monday night before Thanksgiving.

After a close first half, the Lady Rockets changed to a 1-3-1 zone and the Lady Bulldogs did not have an answer as Forrest coasted to a 58-38 win.

Cornersville was led by Gracie Turner with 11 points and Meri Hannah Walker with nine points.

Laura Mealer led the Forrest Lady Rockets with 18 points and Ryann Lewis added 11 points in the Lady Rockets’ eighth win in a row over Cornersville.

“It was a very competitive first half, I am proud of our kids, they knocked down some big shots,” said assistant coach Joy McMasters, who guided the team in place of her daughter Martha Jane. “Meri Hannah (Walker) and Lexi (Warren) had big nights, Abbie Woodard made some hustle plays, we had players diving on the floor for balls, and that’s what we want, play with heart.”

Forrest controlled the tip and Addison Bunty promptly nailed a 3-pointer from the left side to put the Lady Rockets on the board first.

Turner scored two baskets down low and added a free throw and Woodard canned a basket to put the Lady Bulldogs up 7-3.

The Lady Rockets answered with a 3-pointer by Alex Davenport and then Laura Mealer intercepted a Cornersville pass and raced down court for a layup and on the next Forrest possession, Mealer banked a shot off the backboard to put the Lady Rockets up 10-7 at the end of the first quarter.

Action heated up in the second quarter and the fouls began to pile up, especially on Cornersville as Forrest began shooting one-and-one free throws.

After a basket by Bunty, a basket by Turner and an absolute bomb by Childress tied the score at 12-12.

The two teams exchanged baskets and with 4:51 left until halftime, the score was again tied at 14-14.

Back and forth the score went as Warren and Childress hit 3-pointers and Mealer canned a basket and Macyn Kirby drained a 3-pointer.

With 1:50 left until halftime and the score tied at 21-21, Forrest went on a little run and Mealer finished it off with a shot at the buzzer to push Forrest to a three point, 27-24 lead at halftime.

When the third quarter started Forrest went to a 1-3-1 zone defense and Cornersville began to commit turnovers and make poor shot selections.

Forrest began to stretch their lead out as Mealer took over, scoring 10 of her 18 points along with 3-pointers from Kirby and Bunty and by the end of the quarter, the Lady Rockets’ lead was 43-29.

“When they (Forrest) changed their defense after halftime we couldn’t get anything going in the third quarter, we did better in the fourth quarter.” McMasters said.

The Lady Bulldogs did do better in the fourth quarter, but the damage had been done and the Lady Rockets maintained their lead until the buzzer sounded to the end the game and Forrest had won their first game of the season.

“(Kayli) Childress is gaining more confidence with each game, making good decisions, handling the ball and (Gracie) Turner, the ball must go through her for us to win,” McMasters said.

Asked about the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic McMasters said, “We’ve had some issues but have worked through them. The kids need to be in school and really we are just happy to be playing.”

Both squads take off for the Thanksgiving holiday before Cornersville (0-3) hosts Richland (2-1) and Forrest (1-2) travels to Columbia Central (3-0) on Tuesday, December 1.

Forrest 10 17 16 8-53

Cornersville 7 17 5 9-38

Forrest (53): Laura Mealer 18, Ryann Lewis 11, Addison Bunty 8, Alex Davenport 7, Macyn Kirby 6, Carli Warner 3.

Three-Point Goals (6): Kirby 2, Bunty 2, Davenport, Mealer.

Free Throws (11-for-18): Mealer 5-for-5, Lewis 5-for-7, Warner 1-for-4, Kirby 0-for-1, Davenport 0-for 1.

Cornersville (38): Gracie Turner 11, Meri Hannah Walker 9, Lexi Warren 8, Jayli Childress 6, Abbie Woodard 4.

Three-Point Goals (6): Childress 2, Walker 2, Warren 2.

Free Throws (6-for-11): Woodard 2-for-5, Walker 1-for-1, Warren 2-for-3, Turner 1-for-2.

Halftime Score: Forrest 27, Cornersville 24.