The rust from having nearly two months of practice without playing a game showed early, but once the Vikings found their rhythm they were able to compose a 53-43 victory in their season opener against Northside on Tuesday.
Plymouth (1-0) found itself in a 14-8 hole early against the Panthers (6-2), but bounced back to outscore them 24-12 over the middle quarters to take control of the game.
“We kind of worked our way into a rhythm as the game went on, ” Plymouth coach Lamount Gilliam said. “We have a ton of seniors on this team and if we’re going to make a move it’s going to be this season.”
Sophomore guard Jaymasia Dixon paced Plymouth with 13 points and did a good job distributing the ball, while Ebony Barrow added 10 points.
Early on it was Northside that made all the right moves as center Jordan Woolard scored five first-quarter points and Cheyenne Franks added three as the Panthers held a six point lead going into the second quarter.
The Panthers were guided by Woolard and Alex Adams who scored 13 and 12 points, respectively.
That lead lasted all the way until the one-minute mark in the second when Plymouth’s Dixon dished off to Desire Chesson to put the Vikes ahead 19-18.
Northside never recovered. The Panthers’ fought hard to keep pace with Plymouth but could not overcome a turnover-heavy outing.
“We started turning the ball over and getting frustrated instead of playing the game and doing the things that we worked on,” Northside coach Michelle Leathers said. “We’ll just get back to practicing and make the right adjustments.”

Plymouth    8    12    12    21    —    53
Northside    14    6    6    17    —    43
Vikings (53)
Chesson 7, Swain 9, Cooper 4, Ebony Barrow 10, Hines 4, Curry 1, Davis 4, Jaymasia Dixon 13.
Panthers (43)
Alex Adams 12, Jordan Woolard 13, Franks 7, Slade 4, Whitney 5.