2025-26 Girls Basketball

Week 1 Review

Eighth grade middle school basketball is officially underway, and the opening week delivered a little bit of everything. Five games are now in the books after a two-night slate last Wednesday and Thursday, offering fans an early glimpse at how each squad might be shaping up.

The most dramatic finish unfolded at Vickery Creek in the lowest-scoring contest of the night, where Little Mill protected a slim lead from start to finish — the only matchup that truly came down to the final moments.

The remaining four games ended in double-digit margins. The results were evenly split, with two road teams — last year’s championship foes, Hendricks and South Forsyth — starting strong away from home, while DeSana and North Forsyth opened their seasons with convincing wins in front of their home crowds.

Featured Matchup

8th Grade

South Forsyth (48) @ Liberty (24)

If the first game is any indication, South Forsyth looks poised to be one of the teams to beat once again in 2025–26. The Eagles wasted no time seizing control, racing out to a dominant 23–3 lead by the end of the first quarter. Liberty steadied itself in the second period as the teams traded baskets, but the Patriots still surrendered ground, watching the deficit stretch to 22 points at halftime, 33–11.

Six different players contributed to South Forsyth’s explosive first quarter as the Eagles built what became an insurmountable lead. In the second period, the scoring load shifted to Brooklyn Scott, who poured in seven points and finished the half with 10 to pace her team.

For Liberty, Sawyer Shaw carried the entire offensive output, scoring all of her team’s points and leading all scorers with 11.

The third quarter played out much like the second, with both teams trading baskets in a steady back-and-forth stretch. By the end of the period, South Forsyth had pushed the margin to its largest point of the night at 43–17. The fourth quarter was the slowest-paced frame of the game, and Liberty closed on a small highlight, outscoring South Forsyth 7–5.

Perhaps the most telling stat of the night was the scoring distribution: South Forsyth had eight different players find the scoreboard, while Liberty had just two. The Eagles were led by Brooklyn Scott with 12 points, and Harper Mammola added 10. The rest of the offense was well-balanced, with three more players contributing six or seven points apiece.

Liberty’s Sawyer Shaw delivered a standout performance, pouring in a game-high 22 points — all but two of the Patriots’ total.