By Damian Mitchell | Special to the Advertiser

Verbena defeated Maplesville 36-23 in girls’ basketball action on Jan. 22.

Verbena started the game out strong and cruised to a 10-1 lead at the end of the first quarter.

Maplesville had an extremely tough time in the second quarter on offense, as they did not make a single shot in the entire quarter.

Their defense held Verbena to five points making the game 15-1 at halftime.

The second half was different for Maplesville as they tried to gain ground and get within striking distance to make it a more competitive matchup.

Maplesville’s Shaveon Dunlap scored four of their eight points in the third quarter to make the game 23-9 heading into the final quarter.

Maplesville scored 14 points in the fourth quarter but never got within range to stage a comeback.

Verbena’s Jasmyn White led her team with nine points.

Dunlap led Maplesville with eight points.