The Powhatan girls’ basketball team showed no signs of first game jitters as they traveled to Goochland last week to begin their 2011 campaign. In a game that was never close, the Indians recorded a 61-29 victory over the host Bulldogs.

  Powhatan got off to a fast start with an 11-2 lead early in the first period. Goochland maintained pace but the Indians led 24-15 at the half. Powhatan then exploded for 22 second half points to put the game out of reach.

  After Goochland (2-3) played their best game of the season to edge Fluvanna the previous night, Bulldog coach Sarah Voyack felt almost nothing went right against the Indians.

  “Last night we played exceptionally well, and it was the first game we’ve put together four quarters of basketball,” she said. “Powhatan is a big physical, fast team and they can get you from all angles.”

  The Bulldogs couldn’t slow down a fast break offense that keyed off solid rebounding and running the court attack by the Indians.

  “We turned the ball over too much and just couldn’t slow them down,” Voyack said. “Tonight, our press was not effective.”

  Indian guard Marisha Berry led all scorers with 20 points while Hannah Livermon and Timesha Morris each added 14.

  Indian coach Paulette Bowman was pleased with her team’s play considering it was the first game of the season.“They played well considering that they are trying to get a feel for one another,” she said.

  The Indians feature only two returning starters and the remainder came up from JV to start this season. Morris, who starts at center, is only a freshman.

  Bowman felt the win was a team effort. “They all played hard, so all of them had a good game as far as I am concerned,” she said. “You play hard and only good things will happen.”

  For the Bulldogs, the tune up portion of their season came to an end and league play began on Friday when the Bulldogs picked up a 44-38 victory at Central.

  Voyack said non-district games, like Powhatan, would only toughen the Bulldogs for JRD play.

  “Those are the teams who will prepare us for when we play teams like Central,” Voyack said.

  This week Goochland hosts Nottoway on Friday then takes on Bluestone in a home contest at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 19.

POWHATAN 61,
GOOCHLAND 29
POWHATAN (1-0) — Balcom 2, Shiflett 0, M. Berry 20, Johnson 4, D. Berry 2, Livermon 14, Glover 0, Ford 1, Morris 14, Kingston 4, Byrd 0, Long 0. Totals 26 6-13 61.
GOOCHLAND (2-3) — B. Jackson 0, Simmons 0, C. Jackson 2, Rodriguez 8, Liddle 2, Robinson 0, Taylor 8, Southerland 0, Leabough 9, Ezell 0, Rosenbaum 0. Totals 13 3-10 29.
Powhatan…..........18 6 22 15 — 61
Goochland. .........  5 10 10 4 — 29

GOOCHLAND 44,
CENTRAL LUNENBURG 38
GOOCHLAND (3-3, 1-0 James River) — B. Jackson 2, Rodriguez 10, Simmons 0, Liddle 0, Robinson 5, Taylor 22, Leabough 4, Ezell 1, Rosenbaum 0. Totals 18 7-15 44.
CENTRAL LUNENBURG (0-3, 0-1) — Crawley 4, Ghee 0, White 1, Williams 3, Lee 9, Chauous 3, Brown 0, Clark 0, Smith 7, Jennings 11, Blackwell 0. Totals 13 12-21 38.
Goochland…............. 14 16 6 8 — 44
Central…................... 11 11 9 7 — 38
3-point goals — G: Robinson.
Highlights — G: Tammara Taylor 11 rebounds, 3 steals.

Photos by Jim Ridolphi
Goochland’s Khayla Leabough drives to the basket against Powhatan’s Rachel Shiflett. Above: Goochland fought hard but couldn’t out rebound an aggressive Indian squad.