YONS — The Ellsworth girls’ basketball

Lteam started their winter campaign on the right track Friday night, as they traveled to Lyons for the first tip-off of the season. With 11 of the 12 players scoring for the Bearcats, Ellsworth had no problem cruising to a 54-21 victory.

The game got off to a slow start as neither team connected on any of their shots for the first three minutes of the game. That is, until senior Elyse Haxton connected on a short baseline jumper from the left side, prompting a 6-0 run to give the Bearcats the early lead.

The Ellsworth offense continued to roll in the opening frame, as their full court press continued to cause havoc for the Lions as the quarter ended with a 12-4 Bearcat advantage.

Lyons showed some life as the second quarter began, hitting from three-point range for the first points of the quarter, but those were quickly negated as Haxton made a three of her own, this time from the right baseline, starting Ellsworth on a 10-0 run to make the score 22-7.

With 1:30 left in the first half, the Bearcats outscored the Lions 6-3, to make the halftime score 28-10, Bearcats.

Ellsworth got things started quickly in the second half as senior Lexi Moore scored on two fast break buckets, followed by six straight points from senior Kelli Rodriguez as the Bearcats outscored the Lions 17-8 in the third quarter to lead by a score of 45-18 at the end of the frame.

The Bearcats extended their lead to 30 points in the fourth quarter to start the running clock, as the Bearcat reserves closed out the game on their way to a 54-21 victory.

Moore led the Bearcats in scoring with 11 points, followed by Haxton with 10, while Rodriguez added 9.

Ellsworth competed this week in the Amos Morris Basketball Tournament at Russell, but results were not available by press time.

The Bearcats travel to Minneapolis Dec. 16 to face off against the Lions.