LATHAM — A group effort deserves a group hug.

After a team effort by the Green Lady Bobcats, coach Bucky Bridges had praise for his whole team after beating the Western Lady Indians 61-46 Monday in a Southern Ohio Conference game.

“Tonight was, by far, our best team effort. We seemed to come together. It hasn’t felt that way until now. It’s early and we have a long way to go, so we’ll get better as a team,” said Green coach Bucky Bridges.

Lauren Jones had 18 points and 15 rebounds while Adrianne Blankenship got 18 points, 8 rebounds and 11 assists to lead the balanced Green performance.

Gidget Timberman drained four 3-pointers as she scored 12 points and Carlee Pollard added 9 points and 14 rebounds.

“Pollard is only a freshman and she’s been in double figures twice and she hand 9 the other game. I can’t say enough about her,” said Bridges.

Jones scored 6 of Green’s points in the first quarter as they took a 10-4 lead.

“She stepped up and played really big,” said Bridges.

The lead went to 24-13 at the half and then Timberman connected on three 3-pointers in the third quarter as Green’s lead stretched to 42-23.

Green (2-1, 2-1) hosts Symmes Valley Thursday.

Green 10 14 18 19 = 61

Western 4 9 10 23 = 46

GREEN (2-1, 2-1): Ali Suttles 2 0 0-0 4, Gidget Timberman 0 4 0-0 12, Hannah Collett 0 0 0-0 0, Samantha Norwood 0 0 0 0-0 0, Lauren Jones 8 0 2-4 18, Adrianne Blankenship 4 3 1-2 18, Dinah McCloud 0 0 0-0 0, Carlee Pollard 4 0 1-4 9. Totals: 18 7 4-8 61. Fouls: 16. Fouled out: None. Rebounds: 47 (Blankenship 8, Pollard 14, Jones 15). Assists: 15 (Blankenship 11). Steals: 4 (Timberman 2). Turnovers: 21.

WESTERN (0-4, 0-3): Jess Gragg 0 0 0-0 0, Lacy Jenkins 0 0 0-0 0, Morgan Ross 5 0 1-4 11, Abby Henderson 2 0 0-0 4, Casey Hawk 3 0 1-1 7, Brittany Leader 1 0 2-2 4, Hannah Fraley 0 0 0-1 0, Tabby Riley 3 0 0-2 6, Sharon Kerns 3 2 1-2 13. Totals: 17 2 6-14 46. Fouls: 9. Fouled out: None.

Gallipolis 34,

Chesapeake 31

GALLIPOLIS — Not only are the Chesapeake Lady Panthers’ players hurting, now their offense is limping, too.

Injured players Sarah Mayo and Allison Chapman didn’t return to the lineup until two weeks ago and Cassie Rucker is still missing with an injury.

The offense felt the effects as the Lady Panthers lost 34-31 to the Gallipolis Blue Angels Monday.

How bad did it get offensively?

“It got so bad that I called out a play from last year’s playbook and I wasn’t even the coach last year,” said Lady Panthers’ coach Chris Ball.

“Defensively, we played well enough to win. Once we get healthy and get our players in shape who have been hurt, our offense will come around. It’s still early.

Gallipolis led 10-8 at the end of the first quarter and 21-12 at the half as Chesapeake got just 4 points in the second quarter.

The Lady Panthers cut the deficit to 27-22 after three quarters.

Mayo led Chesapeake (1-1) with 11 points. Courtney Heffner, Maggie Smith and Kimmie Bennett added 6 points each.

Morgan Daniels led Gallipolis (2-3) with 12 points.

“Gallipolis had played four games to our one and they played some tough competition and all on the road. They were well tested coming into this game and it showed,” said Ball.

Chesapeake hosts Coal Grove Thursday in an Ohio Valley Conference game.

In the reserve game, Gallipolis won 39-31. Kaitlin Heffner had 9 points for the Lady Panthers.

Chesapeake 8 4 10 9 = 31

Gallipolis 10 11 6 7 = 34

CHESAPEAKE (1-1): Sarah Mayo 3 0 5-7 11, Courtney Heffner 3 0 0-0 6, Maggie Smith 3 0 0-0 6, Kimmie Bennett 3 0 0-0 6, Ashley Jenkins 1 0 0-0 2, Sarah Rice 0 0 0-0 0, Allison Chapman 0 0 0-0 0, Kristen Webb 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 13 0 5-7 31. Fouls: 18. Fouled out: None.

GALLIPOLIS (2-3): Brea Close 3 0 0-2 6, Samantha Barnes 1 0 1-2 3, Halley Rosier 1 0 0-1 2, Amy Noe 1 1 0-2 5, Tara Young 2 0 2-7 6, Morgan Daniels 4 0 4-9 12, Allie Troester 0 0 0-0 0, Ciara Jackson 0 0 0-0 0, Tara Jackson 0 0 0-0 0. Totals: 12 1 7-23 34. Fouls: 10. Fouled out: None.