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By KEVIN ECKLEBERRY

Daily News

It was a stress-free night for the Callaway Lady Cavaliers.

Coming off two close losses on the road, Callaway (3-2) opened its Region 5-AA schedule with a 45-20 home win over Temple on Tuesday night.

Jazmine Thornton knocked down a pair of 3-pointers and scored 16 points to lead the offensive effort, and Callaway’s defense didn’t give up more than seven points in a quarter.

“We lost two close games to Handley by three and Newnan by one, so just getting back in that win column makes everybody feel a little better,” said Callaway head coach Deyano Martin.

Callaway was short-handed with only eight players available, but it didn’t matter against an overmatched Temple squad.

While the offensive production was there as it’s been throughout the season, Martin was particularly pleased with what he saw on defense.

“The defensive effort and the hustle, that’s what stood out tonight,” Martin said.

The Lady Cavaliers were ahead 8-2 after the first quarter, and the lead was 17-7 heading to the halftime break. Any chance Temple had of mounting a comeback ended in the third quarter when it was outscored 21-7, with Thornton leading the way with 10 points.

While Thornton was tops on the team with her 16 points, Gabrielle Johnson added eight points while making two 3-pointers.

Kristal Stephens and Keiyunna Maddox had six points apiece, and Takayla Tucker and Lacy Thomas scored four points apiece.

Callaway will continue its region schedule on Friday at Haralson County, which fell to Bremen 42-40 in its region opener.

Martin believes the sky is the limit for this team, especially if it keeps up the intensity on defense.

“I feel like offensively we’ve got enough to talent,” Martin said. “I feel like we’ve got to lock in on defense. If we do that, I feel like we’ll be fine.”