Paced by a 15-point performance from senior guard Frances Watts, the Fort Dale Lady Eagles held visiting Dixie to 2-points in the first quarter on the way to a 62-16 shellacking of the AISA Class A Rebels Tuesday.

While Dixie Academy (0-3) was state champions in Class A last year, first-year head coach Beth Richards said the Lady Rebels graduated five starters and were just outmatched by the Eagles, who won a state championship in Class AAA in 2004 and were runner-ups in 2005.

&#8220We're just a small school and when you graduate your starting five and then come play a three-A school, you just have to work with what you've got.”

Lady Eagles (3-2) head coach Reggie Mantooth agreed with Richards, but for a different reason.

&#8220(Dixie) has a real young team and we were able to get up big on them and then get some experience from some of our younger players,” he said. &#8220It was also the first time we've seen zone defense this year since everybody to this point has played us man-to-man.”

Jennifer Pouncey scored 11-points and had six steals and Maryanne Hancock chipped in eight points and posted seven rebounds. Jessica King led the way for Dixie scoring six points.