By Brandon Sumrall | Special to the Advertiser

The Billingsley girls basketball team came away with a 45-35 win over Verbena in its season opener on Monday.

The Bears put on a 3-point clinic in the first half as Brannon Zander started the game with a three, but it was a 14-point first quarter performance by MacKenzie Glass that paced the Bears.

Glass shot 4-of-7 from behind the arc in the period and Billingsley held a commanding 22-9 lead at the end of the first quarter.

The Red Devils began to chip away in the second, as six Candice Williams scored six consecutive baskets to draw Verbena to within nine.

A basket from Hollann Horton brought an end to the Verbena run while a three from Janiya White made it a 10-point Billingsley lead at the half, 29-19.

The two teams exchanged early baskets to start the third quarter before an Abby Tindol basket started a 2:23 dry spell for both teams.

A basket from Horton broke the drought and kicked off a 7-0 Bears run to end the period, which gave Billingsley a 41-23 lead at the end of the third.

The momentum shifted in favor of the Red Devils in the fourth quarter, as White took over for Verbena on her way to scoring all 12 points for the Red Devils in the final period.

Verbena outscored the Bears 12-4 in the final period, but it was not enough and Billingsley picked up the season opening win.

Glass led the Bears with 19 points, nine rebounds and five steals.

White led all scorers with 25 points, as well as six rebounds and six steals.