Georgiana basketball got their program off to a good start with a 56 – 39 win over the Luverne Tigers Tuesday.

Head coach Kirk Norris said it started as a back-and-forth game, with 5 or 6 lead changes in the first quarter. The Panther’s however managed to close out the quarter ahead, leading at the end of the first 18-13.

“They had a lot of bigger, six-foot-three and six-foot-five players, but I think we were a little faster than them,” Norris said. “We tried to push the tempo and play a fast paced game.”

The Luverne Tigers couldn’t pry away the lead and Georgiana closed out the half again up by five, 24 -19.

Midway through the fourth, however, Georgiana started going on a run, Norris said.

“We scored on transitions four or five straight times,” Norris said. “They were a lot taller than us but my guys did a good job boxing out and not allowing them offensive rebounds.”

Final score, Georgiana 56 – Luverne 39.

Adrian Paige lead the Panthers with 18 points and 8 rebounds, followed by Adrian Rich with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

Keon Binion and Lee Curry each sank 11 and 10 points respectively.

While Norris said he saw some things that needed work, he said you can’t read into the first game that much.

“It’s the first game with over twenty more to go,” Norris said. “Now it’s time to go back to work and get ready for Highland Home.

A schedule change means that the Panthers will play Highland Home on Saturday at 4 p.m. at Georgiana, instead of away as previously indicated.