By TREY HICKMAN/For the Reporter

CALERA — From the outset of the game to the final buzzer, the Calera varsity girls’ basketball team dominated Dora in a 56-19 thrashing of the visiting Bulldogs on Jan. 4.

The Eagles (11-3) shot out of the gate on a 12-0 run powered by eight points from Tyesha Haynes, and Calera’s dominance never subsided. Haynes finished with a game-high 24 points, including 14 over the first two quarters as the Eagles built a 35-9 halftime lead. She also recorded a game-high five steals.

“Tyesha is kind of the straw that stirs the drink so if I can keep her focused in on what she’s trying to do, we can be pretty good when we want to be,” said Calera head coach James Knowles.

Kalen Starks complemented Haynes with 11 points, five rebounds and four steals while Tia McCarter contributed 10 points and six rebounds. Keyanna Gayden grabbed six rebounds of her own in the winning effort.

For Dora, Kayla McKinley scored seven points and Madison Clayton collected five as the Bulldogs dropped to 2-15.

“We’re improving, which is a big thing,” Knowles said. “Of course this is a big week. We have Montevallo, then we have Bibb (County), which is an area game. Then of course we go to Oneonta, which are the defending (Class) 4A state champs and they’re tough.

“The measuring stick comes Friday (Jan.10 against Oneonta).”