GILMER - The Bullard Lady Panthers opened up district play with a convincing 65-35 win over the Lady Buckeyes of Gilmer this past Friday night at the Gilmer High School gymnasium.

The Lady Panthers (20- 3; 1-0), had a hard time getting started as Gilmer fought Bullard basket-for-basket, and a 8-8, tie after one stanza.

Bullard tightened the defense up in the second period however allowing only three Gilmer points, as Bullard put up 12 for a 20-11, halftime tally.

From there on out, the Lady Panthers Danielle Heithoff, CalliMiller and Kayla Welling controlled the boards, as Heithoff chalked up 26 points, and Miller added 11.

Samantha Philips went long-distance twice as did point guard Minta Spears to aid in a 26 point third period that built a 46-23, Lady Panther lead that was not to be tested after that.

The Bullard junior varsity also won convincingly, 51- 28, behind 17 points by Ashlee Shidler.

Kylee Nichols and Felecia Sigman were in double figures for Bullard also scoring 10 points apiece.

Leading 12-1, after the first period, Bullard ran up to a 29-14, halftime score and a 35-20 advantage after three periods.

The Lady Panthers junior varsity improves to 11-9, and undefeated in league play at 1-0.

The third-ranked Lady Panthers will look for district win number two as they entertain Tatum on Tuesday night at Panther gymnasium. The freshman game is slated for 5 p.m., the junior varsity at 6 p.m. and the varsity game at 7:30 p.m. District 17-3A Girls Varsity Basketball No. 3 Bullard 65 Gilmer 35 Bullard 8 12 26 19 - 65 Gilmer 8 3 12 12 -35 BULLARD - Calli Miller, 11; Heather Camp, 2; Ally Covalt, 2; Samantha Phillips, 6; Minta Spears, 10; Kayla Welling, 6; Danielle Heithoff, 26. GILMER - Keyna Nix, 2; Markeshia Garner, 2; Paige Waters, 4; Rayven Osbourne, 18; Alex English, 3; Michaela Noble, 6. THREE-POINT GOALS - B: Phillips (2), Spears (2), Heithoff. G: Osbourne (2), English. RECORDS - Bullard 20-3 (1-0). NEXT UP - Tatum at Bullard, 7 p.m., Tuesday. Junior Varsity Bullard 51 Gilmer 28 Bullard 12 17 6 16 -51 Gilmer 1 13 6 8 -28 BULLARD - Chelseas Foreman, 2; Kylee Nichols, 10; Felecia Sigman, 10; Heather Anding, 1; Kailee Morris, 7; Susan Lowrie, 2; Erika Delatorre, 2; Ashlee Shidler, 17. GILMER - Sikes, 2; Bennett, 6; Brown, 4; Godfrey, 2; Jimmerson, 3; Jeffery, 5; Derrick, 2; J. Bennett, 2; Goodman, 2. THREE-POINT GOALS - B: Sigman (2), Morris. G: Jeffery. RECORDS - Bullard 19-9 (1-0). NEXT UP - Tatum at Bullard, 6 p.m. Tuesday.