LYLE — The Athletics didn’t start as fast as they wanted to, but it didn’t matter as they used a huge second half run to beat Mabel-Canton 76-33 in a girls basketball game in Lyle Monday.

The Athletics (3-0 overall, 2-0 SEC) opened the second half on a 26-0 run as their full court pressure on the Cougars (3-1 overall, 2-1 SEC) broke the game wide open.

“The expectations are high and when we step on the floor, we’ve got to play to the level we’re capable of playing. We felt like we didn’t really do that in the first half,” LP head coach Justin Morris said. “I thought they handled our pressure well (in the first half), but our pressure is cumulative and possession after possession it takes its toll mentally and physically.”

LP led just 22-17 early on, but it closed the first half on a 22-5 run behind the play of eighth grader Brooke Walter. Walter finished with 14 points and five steals and her biggest play of the night came when she made a steal and finished a lay-up while being fouled to make it a 37-21 LP lead.

“(Brooke’s) maturity has been unbelievable,” Morris said. “She takes giant steps on a week to week basis as a basketball player. She’s played so much basketball in her life, that it kind of comes second nature to her. She’s a true point guard.”

LP sophomore Sarah Holtz gave the team a big boost inside as she finished with 22 points and nine rebounds. She said there wasn’t a moment of doubt for LP, even when MC was keeping things close early on.

“We started off slow, but we know we’re going to face adversity sometimes and we’re prepared for it,” Holtz said. “We knew we were going to come out and have a good second half and get running. We had confidence.”

LP’s depth was a big factor in the game as Ann Rysavy, who had 11 points and six steals, had to sit for a stretch in the first half with foul trouble. Courtney Walter had a big night on both ends of the floor as she finished with 14 points, eight steals and five assists.

“I have complete confidence in the depth of our team,” Holtz said. “Every girl off the bench can play just as hard as the people that came out. We just keep going. It’s like a machine.”

MC 23 10 — 33

LP 44 32 — 76

LP scoring: Sarah Holtz, 22; Brooke Walter, 14; Courtney Walter, 14; Ann Rysavy, 11; Madison Truckenmiller, 5; Annie Holtz, 4; Maggie Lewison, 2; Bethany Strouf, 2; free throws: 68 percent (15-for-19); rebounds: 32 (Sarah Holtz, 9); turnovers: 19