GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

Oxford 36, Walton 28

OXFORD - A dominant third quarter created a double-digit cushion for Oxford in Monday night's opening-game victory.

Rachel Seiler had six points in the third, while Vada Mack and Bridget Rice scored four apiece in a 16-2 stanza. A two-point halftime deficit for Oxford grew to as many as 15 points in the fourth. "We played great defense in the third quarter, shot it well, and didn't turn it over hardly at all," said Oxford coach Chris Palmer. "It gave us some breathing room because we struggled (offensively) in the fourth quarter."