By Donald Heath
Special for the Effingham Herald
GARDEN CITY – Hayden Johanson began her junior basketball season with a night to remember Friday.
The 5-foot-10 forward poured in a career-high 23 points to lead South Effingham’s girls to a 54-17 victory over host Woodville-Tompkins in the season opener for both teams.
Johanson, a second-team all-region performer last season, had 15 points in the first half as South dominated its overmatched opponent.
Woodville-Tompkins managed just one field goal in the first quarter and didn’t score in the second quarter while the Mustangs built a 27-3 advantage.
The Wolverines finished the game 0-for-13 from the free-throw line.
South, the only boys or girls local basketball team to advance to state last season, scored 22 straight points in the first half.
Johanson, who averaged 9.3 points a game last season, had the Mustangs’ first eight points and fueled the big first-half run with 10 points.
Her previous highest scoring game was 21 against Glynn Academy last season in the region tournament.
Sophomore Alayiah Lewis finished with 14 points, 10 in the third quarter, against Woodville. Freshman Savannah France added six points and sophomore Isabella Martinez had five points.
South will be back in action Nov. 19 on the road against Camden County. The Mustangs’ home opener is Nov. 23 against Bryan County.