The Forrest Lady Rockets started strong, kept their foot on the gas and put away Columbia Academy by the midpoint of the first quarter, routing the Lady Bulldogs 42-12 in the season opening Hall of Fame game Tuesday night in Columbia.

"It was a nice win, it's been three years since we have got a 'W' on opening night," said Forrest head coach Jeremy Jean. "It is a great way to start the season, anytime you can get a 'W' is good."

The 30-point thrashing over Columbia Academy marked the first season opening win for Forrest since beating Clarkrange in 2009-2010.

Stifling defense

The Forrest defense stifled Columbia Academy from the outset of the contest, forcing the home team into 14 first quarter turnovers that put the lid on the game early.

"The girls came out with really good defensive intensity and they put pressure on CA when we had the ball by always looking to attack," said Jean. "The plan was to put pressure on them early and often."

Caitlyn Yost opened up the season scoring for the Lady Rockets, and after a Lady Bulldog missed shot, Sierra Waggoner knocked down a short jumper, making it 4-0.

A Lady Bulldog miscue with the basketball led to a Hannah Evans bucket off a pretty pass from Kirston Holder, and after another CA boo-boo, Waggoner lit the light again.

Moments later, Holder saved the ball from going out of bounds under the Forrest basket, dishing to Waggoner, who converted the field goal in the paint, opening up a 10-0 lead.

Early momentum

"Waggoner hitting some early shots gave us some momentum to start the game off. If she can continue to be an efficient shooter, that would be a great asset to the team," said Jean. "She also played some really good 'D' on their point guard, causing them to let other girls bring the ball."

The Lady Rockets forced Columbia Academy into another bad pass and Holder hit one of two from the free throw line after being hacked to put the visitors up 11-zip.

After a CA timeout, Sabrina Gilliam finally scored for the Lady Bulldogs on one of two from the charity stripe with 4:16 remaining in the first period.

Forrest turned up the defensive pressure cooker and their reward was consecutive steals and scores by Savannah Brothers and Yost to extend the lead to 15-1.

Margaret Bryan scored in the paint for a 17-1 FHS lead before Leslie Golden delivered Columbia Academy's first field goal of the game.

Three-pointers fly

Hailey Collins answered with a long three-bomb for Forrest, making it 20-3 before the quarter ended with three points by CA, who were mired in a 14-point hole after the first eight minutes.

The Lady Bulldogs had the ball to begin period number two, but did not possess it for long as Holder came up with a theft and raced in for a lay-up.

Brothers scored the next four points via a steal and score and a rebound and put-back, before a Yost basket in the paint, making it a 28-6 contest.

Yost added two more points, and after a CA bobble, Evans went to the free throw line where she nailed one of two.

Sandwiched in between two CA baskets was a three-pointer by Forrest freshman Kyleah Hengesbach and the first half ended with the Lady Rockets up big, 34-10.

Pouring it on

In the third period, the Lady Rockets went for the jugular, leading by 18 points at 40-12 when Collins went off the deep end, drilling a three-bomb, plus scoring twice off of a pair of Hengesbach steals to seal the deal and invoke the mercy rule as FHS took a 47-12 lead into the final eight minutes.

"Collins came in and was a spark plug, got some great ball pressure to cause some turnovers, and shot the ball really well," said Jean. "I wasn't really surprised with what she did. She has become a gym rat since the summer when she got healthy with her ankle."

Bryan scored the only points in the fourth quarter as Jean emptied the bench in the 37-point victory.

"It is nice to get everyone in because they work hard during practice," said Jean.

Scoring

Yost (6 rebounds, 4 assists) and Collins both finished with 10 points apiece, while Brothers (4 rebounds) added eight, Waggoner added a half dozen, Evans (six rebounds) finished with five points, Bryan tallied four, Hengesbach (three assists) had the one trey, and Holder (4 assists) finished with a trio.

On Saturday, Wayne County comes to Chapel Hill for a Hall of Fame match-up with start time slated for 6 p.m.

"That will be a tough test for us Saturday, they play extremely hard and they won't beat themselves with unforced turnovers or bad decisions," said Jean. "They have a couple years under coach (David) Sisk, who does a good job and we will have to play better disciplined defense to get them in spots they don't won't to be in, and take quality shots to beat them."