GUYTON — It was only a scrimmage, but South Effingham’s girls basketball team looked like a good bet to surpass last season’s paltry win total.

The Lady Mustangs, victors only five times in 2016-17, topped Battery Creek 42-34 in a contest that ended after three quarters because of time constraints.

“I think they did a great job of executing the things we worked on during the preseason,” first-year South Effingham coach Jenifer Hall said.

Hall returned to basketball after several away from the game to raise her daughter.

“There’s a lot of time involved in basketball,” said Hall, who led South Effingham’s volleyball program from 2011-2015.

Now that she’s back to hoops, she’s eager to mold the Lady Mustangs into a winner.

Hall’s rebuilding plan suffered a serious setback before the season when senior Faith Harris suffered a knee injury. Harris will remain with the team as a manager to spur her teammates.

Caroline Allen, Cheyenne Boswell and Jayde Goldwire are other seniors Hall will count on for leadership.

South Effingham also boasts a group of talented underclassmen that includes Mallori Jenkins, Jillian Pelote, Maleece Newbill, Cianna Trenary and Kiera NeSmith.

Newbill, a tough inside force, paced the Lady Mustangs against Battery Creek with nine points. Boswell and Trenary each chipped in seven points, and Jenkins tallied six.

“I felt like we had good passing and we ran the floor well,” Hall said.