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Montevallo got 32 combined points from Riauna Inabinette and Tiana Kennedy in a dominant 66-21 victory to start the 2019-20 season. (For the Reporter/Larry Dancy)

By ALEC ETHEREDGE | Sports Editor 

MONTEVALLO – The Montevallo girls basketball team had a young roster of players to open the 2019-20 season, but it didn’t matter on Thursday, Nov. 14, as the Bulldogs opened the season with a dominant 66-21 victory against West Blocton in front of the home crowd.

MHS got points from all eight of its players on the roster, including 17 from Riauna Inabinette and 15 from Tiana Kennedy to help in the easy victory.

Both of those players, who are two of just four upperclassmen, got off to fast starts in the game to help the Bulldogs build a big lead early in the game.

In the opening period, Inabinette picked up where she left off last season after seeing late success and posted 10 points on five made field goals in the opening quarter, while Kennedy added two field goals and two free throws for six points herself.

Those two combined for 16 opening-quarter points, while five others made one field goal to help Montevallo post 26 points in the first quarter, while West Blocton only put up five points.

That was just the beginning of a dominant first half for Montevallo.

In the second quarter, Inabinette continued her fast start to the season with seven more points, including her first 3-pointer of the night, while Kennedy and Teasia Purnell each posted four points in the period to play a part in a 19-point period

The defensive effort also remained consistent with, as the Bulldogs held West Blocton to just three points to take a 45-8 lead into the halftime break.

With the comfortable advantage, Montevallo was able to play more players in the second half to get experience for several of the freshmen on this year’s team, including Jai-Lin Ivory.

In the third quarter, Ivory posted a team-high five points, while Kennedy added four more. Montevallo went on to outscore West Blocton 14-7 in the period to extend its lead to 59-15 heading to the final frame.

The Bulldogs had their lowest output of the game in the final quarter, but protecting a 44-point lead, it didn’t matter. They still scored seven points, and that was still enough to outscore West Blocton’s six points, which led to the 66-21 final.

Ivory finished the game with nine points, while Purnell, Jamari Holmes and Siara Kennedy all had six in the win.

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