The Forrest Lady Rockets started fast and kept their foot to the pedal in a big 58-34 coat-to-coast win over Richland Friday night in Chapel Hill.

"We came out with a lot of energy and enthusiasm and a want to, to defend tonight," said Forrest head coach Jeremey Jean. "That is the type of effort we need every night and if we do that, we could win every game."

Caitlyn Yost poured in a game-high 21 points for the Lady Rockets, including an 11-17 performance from the free throw line.

Causing fouls

"Yost is putting pressure on the people that are guarding her and they are getting in foul trouble," said Jean. "On most nights, their best players are usually guarding her, so it puts them in foul trouble."

Hannah Evans also had a big night for Forrest, scoring 14 points with a three-pointer and one out of two from the charity stripe.

"Evans is a mismatch for a lot of people and tonight she exploited that mismatch outstandingly," said Jean. "I think offensively we are starting to understand what we are trying to do without me telling them and it is going to be fun as they continue to do that."

It was all hometown girls from the outset when Savannah Brothers scored off an early steal and by the time Ashland Edwards hit two free throws for Richland with 2:06 remaining in the first quarter, Forrest led 10-2.

Building a lead

An Amanda Patterson three-pointer, followed moments later by a Sierra Waggoner three-bomb extended Forrest's lead to 16-2 before Edwards tallied the final three points of the stanza, making it 16-5 after the first eight minutes.

Waggoner would hit one of two from the line early in the second quarter and after a Lady Raiders' miscue, Evans went downtown to make it a 20-5 contest.

Chelsea Payne stopped the bleeding for Richland, but a three-point play the old-fashioned way by Yost gave the Lady Rockets a commanding 23-8 lead and Forrest would take a 28-15 lead to the halftime break.

Evans would take control over the next several minutes, outscoring Richland 7-2 by herself as the Lady Rockets moved way ahead 35-17.

Key layup

Brothers made it a 20-point game with a driving lay-up and it was all downhill from there as Forrest led 39-21, entering the final eight minutes of play.

Jean would shuffle players off the bench for the remainder of the game as the Lady Rockets continued to impress, outscoring Richland 19-13 in the final period to win going away.

The Lady Rockets play four games over the holiday, hosting Cascade, Creekwood, Giles County, and MCHS at the Forrest Thanksgiving Tournament on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday in Chapel Hill.

Challenges

Jean said, "We have four games in four days with all types of teams," said Jean. "From the young and inexperienced to the athletic teams to the Creekwood game where they have a D-1 signee, so it will get us better, going in to the district run that starts next week."

Waggoner (2 treys) finished with seven points for Forrest, while Brothers added a half dozen, Kirston Holder and Amanda Patterson finished with three points apiece, and Hailey Collins and Dani Hoeft both logged a deuce.

"This group is unselfish enough to where they don't care who does what as long as we win," said Jean. "And if we can keep that mentality and the defensive pressure up, I think we have a good chance to finish up strong before Christmas."

Edwards led Richland with nine points.