The Fayette girls wasted no time in dispatching Lewis & Clark Conference opponent Scotland County at home Monday night, winning 62-28.

The Lady Falcons improve to 7-2 on the season with one game left to play in 2023.

Fayette hit the ground running Monday, jumping to a 9-0 lead, bookended by 3-point shots from junior Oakleigh Hill. By the end of the first quarter, the Lady Falcons held a 20-8 advantage.

“The girls played with tenacity from the opening tipoff,” said Fayette coach Daryl Betts. “Being at home makes it a little bit easier to get up for a game, but we knew coming into this we had to lock it in defensively. We did just that until we got them to the free-throw line.”

Hill picked up right where she led off to start the second quarter. Just 19 seconds into the period, she scored in the paint off an inbounds pass to keep up the momentum. Three minutes later, she banked a 3-point shot off the glass to put Fayette in the lead 29-11.

Fayette kept its foot on the gas throughout the remainder of the first half, sparked by back-to-back steals by junior Lasaydra Jackman.

“Oakleigh was a catalyst in the first half on the scoreboard, but her baskets were set up by great team play,” Betts said. “I saw great passes and extra passes so many times in this game.”

The Lady Falcon defense allowed no more than eight points in any quarter. Meanwhile, the offense poured in baskets, scoring in double-digits all four quarters.

Fayette dressed 11 players, and all made it into the scorebook. Hill paced the Falcons with a game-high 20 points, 18 of which came in the first half, and banked four 3-point shots in the first two quarters.

Senior forward Kay Sullivan and freshman point guard Addy Gibbs each posted seven points.

“We had such great vision in transition, and everyone was working super hard,” Betts said. “We still need to limit some of our fouls, but in general, I was super proud of the overall team effort. If we can keep playing with this poise, we will go a long way this season.”

Fayette’s next test is tonight (Wednesday) at home against Paris (3-6). The teams tip off at 6 p.m. in the final Lewis & Clark game for both teams in 2023.

Fayette will then prepare for the New Franklin Tournament. The Falcons earned the top seed and will face Bunceton/Prairie Home at 12:30 p.m. on Dec. 30. A win would likely pit Fayette against fourth-seeded New Franklin in the semifinals. The two teams are 1-1 in two games played this year.

Fayette returns to L&C play on Jan. 8 with a long road trip to Schuyler County.