Taylorville used scoring advantages in the first and third quarters Saturday to come away with a 56-43 victory over the Teutopolis Lady Shoes in an opening round game of the Apex Network Physical Therapy Highland Girls Basketball Tournament.
The Lady Tornadoes jumped out to a 17-7 lead after the opening eight minutes. Chloe Probst then scored eight points and Malea Helmink added six, helping T-Town go on a 24-15 run in the second quarter to narrow the gap to 32-31 at halftime.
But Taylorville responded with a 14-3 scoring surge in the third period to re-establish the double-digit lead, 46-34.
Helmink finished with 11 points to pace the Lady Shoes and Allie Ruholl added 10.
The Lady Shoes are now 13-7 on the season. They will return to tournament action in Highland Tuesday and will face either Breese Mater Dei or Belleville East at 4 p.m.