SPRINGFIELD, Ga. — Effingham County High School girls basketball coach Kevin Furtado wasted no time getting to work.

Within weeks of being hired, Furtado conducted a youth skills camp, then last weekend staged the two-day Lady Rebel Summer Shootout at the Clarence Morgan Recreation Center — believed to be the first public-school basketball event held in the gym. Nineteen area teams took part, using the offseason scrimmages to build chemistry and camaraderie.

“I think everything went well. We had good crowds, and everyone was excited to see kids from sixth grade on up,” Furtado said.

The Rebels — who had practiced only six times with their new coach — went 2-2, beating Claxton and Savannah Christian but falling to Appling County and Savannah Country Day.

“We’re trying to get better like everyone else,” Furtado said. “Even if we had gone 0-4, the questions would have been, ‘Are we improving? Are we staying in games?’”

Effingham County won just two games last season, so Furtado said expectations must match reality. He likes the talent on hand, led by all-subregion forward Nakera Hawkins, who is “trying to carry the team on her shoulders.” Rising sophomore guard Shaunici “CC” Calhoun and senior guard Jada Praylo add athleticism in the backcourt, while other positions remain up for grabs.

The coach also got a glimpse of the program’s future: Effingham County middle-school athletes moved up to face junior-varsity competition and won twice.

The Rebels visit two more offseason camps this week — Friday at Appling County and Saturday at the University of Georgia.