Tyler Consolidated’s Andi Fiber (33) pokes the ball away from Williamstown’s Alia Phelps during Thursday’s game. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

WILLIAMSTOWN – The Williamstown girls basketball team to a degree defied logic.

In the first quarter of the first game to start the regular season, the Yellowjackets turned in what was close to a perfect eight-plus minutes against Tyler Consolidated.

Don’t expect too many teams to play their best basketball right out of the gate as the Yellowjackets did in a 79-40 win at Williamstown High School.

“I wasn’t expecting this, especially based off our two scrimmages we had last week,” said Williamstown coach Danny Bunch.

Williamstown scored the first 18 points of the game and later went on a 20-0 run which gave the Yellowjackets a 38-3 cushion two minutes into the second quarter.

Williamstown’s Quinn Bunch (3) guards Tyler Consolidated’s Faith Lemasters during Thursday’s game. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

“I was expecting this game to be a little sloppier,” Bunch continued. “I think what caused it all was our defense. The girls did a great job guarding, communicating and being where they were supposed to be.

“I think our pressure, playing a little fast and pushing the ball caught up with Tyler. Tyler is going to win some games this year. We managed to catch them a little off guard because we played pretty well.”

Setting the tone for the Yellowjacket success was junior Quinn Bunch, who knocked down three 3-pointers in the first half and scored 20 points as Williamstown took a 47-18 lead into halftime. Bunch finished with a game-high 25 points, four assists and five steals. She also pulled down four rebounds.

“I was really impressed with our team because even though our scrimmages went well we knew we could play better,” said Bunch, who converted on one of two four-point plays after she was fouled making a three. “This week, we’ve been going really hard at each other and I think that showed today.

“I was feeling pretty good on those 3-pointers. I didn’t know I was going to shoot that well but that’s the good thing about having good shooters on our team. Other teams can’t really double-down.”

Williamstown’s Maggie Frye (14) looks to pass as Tyler Consolidated’s Sloane Wall (23) and Ryland Henderson defend during Thursday’s game. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

Williamstown’s defensive pressure caused 26 turnovers. The Yellowjackets were credited with 17 steals, including four from Burt. The senior tri-captain ended the night with 14 points and nine rebounds.

Freshman teammate Maggie Frye, making her high school debut, tossed in 11 points, while sophomore Chloe Mulligan came off the bench for eight points.

For Tyler Consolidated, Kathryn Grimm finished with a team-high 15 points and Sloane Wall pitched in nine points. Following the debacle in the first quarter, the Silver Knights finally settled in for a majority of the second quarter and played on even terms with Williamstown.

Tyler Consolidated closed the first half outscoring the Yellowjackets 15-11 over the final five-plus minutes.

“That was about the roughest start to a first quarter for the start of the season you could ever think of,” Tyler coach Scott Wall said. “It was the type of thing that just took you off-guard and not expecting. I would love to say we had first-game jitters. It wasn’t that. I don’t know that we were ready for how physical Williamstown was with us in their press.

Williamstown’s Quinn Bunch (3) dribbles past Tyler Consolidated’s Ryland Henderson during Thursday’s game. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

“(Coach Bunch) does a really good job coaching his team to be ready to jump on you from the start. Once we settled down, I thought we played much better. I mean, we couldn’t play much worse. It was a good quality opponent to start the season with. We told the girls, these are the kind of teams you have to play if you want to get to the next level and in the postseason.”

Williamstown had one last ambush – this one lasting three minutes into the second half as the Yellowjackets scored on five of the six turnovers they created. Makaela Bandy started the 11-0 run with a pair of baskets and Burt capped it with a putback to push the gap to 58-18.

“The biggest takeaway from tonight was our rebounding and our depth,” coach Bunch said. “In regards to Quinn, the things she was doing on the other end – disrupting the ballhandlers, chasing girls down from behind and knocking balls out – as a coach that’s what you want from your leaders. She did it all.”

Williamstown’s largest lead of the night was 44 points (77-33 and again at 79-35).

“We didn’t give up – we continued to battle throughout the whole game,” Wall said. “Moving forward, our preparation has to be better going into the game as far as what to expect from the other team. We saw some things that we need to tweak.

“You can only practice against yourselves for so long. You need to see how things work against other people.”