MERCERVILLE, Ohio — A good start led to a solid finish for the South Gallia girls basketball team Saturday afternoon during a 59-42 victory over visiting Trimble in a Tri-Valley Conference Hocking Division matchup in Gallia County.

The host Lady Rebels (4-2, 4-1 TVC Hocking) stormed out to a 16-5 first quarter advantage and never looked back, handing the Lady Tomcats (2-5, 2-3) their third straight setback of the season. SGHS has now won three consecutive decisions, all against TVC Hocking Division opponents.

After establishing a double-digit advantage after eight minutes of play, the Lady Rebels followed with a 19-9 surge in the second canto for a commanding 35-14 lead at the break. THS closed the second half with a small 28-24 spurt and trailed 45-27 headed into the finale, but the guests never came within single-digits down the stretch.

Ellie Bostic led South Gallia with a game-high 21 points, followed by Sara Bailey with 11 points and Rachel Johnson with nine markers. Meghan Caldwell chipped in eight points to the winning cause, while Lesley Small and Mikayla Poling each added four markers to the winning cause.

Jasmyne Johnson rounded out the SGHS scoring with two points. The hosts were 10-of-17 at the free throw line for 59 percent. Only three of the Lady Rebels’ 23 made field goals were three-pointers, and all three came in the opening half.

Tia Altier paced Trimble with 10 points, followed by Emily McKee with nine points and Nicole Kish with eight markers. THS was 6-of-12 at the charity stripe for 50 percent and hit six trifectas in the contest, five of which came after the intermission.