Statesboro High School faced a familiar foe for the Lady Blue Devils’ Ladies Night Out event Monday night, hosted by SHS.
    Southeast Bulloch and SHS renewed their cross-town rivalry for the first round of action, with the Lady Blue Devils handing the Lady Yellow Jackets a 54-24 loss.
    Statesboro finished with two players in double figures while Sara Howard paced the Lady Yellow Jackets with 10 points.
    “It was not a practically well played game for either team. We had to of had 40 fouls out there. The SEB kids played hard and they played as well as they could,” Statesboro High School head coach Jeff Seier. “We came out with ‘Florida Gators disease’ and just kind of sluffed through the first half.”
    Both teams struggled offensively in the early going, but eventually the Lady Blue Devils began to find their rhythm, going on a 16-0 run. SHS started the game holding the Lady Yellow Jackets to just one point in the first quarter.
    A 30-point loss isn’t exactly how SEB head coach Kristen Barnhill wanted to perform against Statesboro. Barnhill said before the game she wanted to get her team excited to play at Statesboro.
    “I always try to get them excited to play Statesboro. It’s a cross-town rivalry and we don’t get to play them much. We came out and gave them a game, but I think we’re improving every game and that’s all I can ask of them,” Barnhill said.
    Statesboro improved to 2-0 on the season with a game scheduled today against New Hampstead at 7:30 p.m. at Statesboro. The Lady Yellow Jackets dropped to 0-2 on the season and will face Windsor Forest in the first game of Day Two of Ladies Night Out.
    While SEB and SHS prepare for today’s action, here were a few keys to the game between the Lady Blue Devils and Lady Yellow Jackets.

Nothing is Free
    Both teams struggled from the line early, but for the Lady Yellow Jackets it was particularly costly. SEB missed 10 consecutive free throws in the first quarter.
    “Yeah that was crazy. ‘What were we like 0-15?’ Barnhill said. “That’s been one of our focuses all year in practice because we’re big and aggressive. Hopefully we can do better (today).”

Krystyn Turner finally broke the free throw drought late in the first quarter. She finished the game with three points.

Twin Towers
    In the second half Keisonna Rollins and Victoria Harris dominated the low post. The duo combined for 20 points, scoring 10 and 10 respectively.
    Rollins, who found herself in foul trouble in the first half, scored six second-half points for the Lady Blue Devils to help the team secure a win.
    Coach Seier said the play from his post players turned out to be the difference in the game.
    “In the second half our post players won the battle,” Seier said. “Keisonna (Rollins) had a really big night, offensively. Her and Victoria Harris had to carry the brunt. It wasn’t pretty, but we’ll take it.”

Breakout Game
    Sara Howard scored a new season-high for the Lady Yellow Jackets Monday night. Howard finished the game with 10 points and gave SEB a solid look inside.
    But it wasn’t just Howard’s offensive prowess that was a difference in the game. Her five blocked shots was a game-high.
    “She played lights out tonight. She stepped up,” Barnhill said. “She wants a triple double every game and if she puts her mind to it she can achieve that.”

    Horace Holloman may be reached at (912) 489-9408.