Senior guard Dax Helsel tallied a game-high 15 points Friday night and the South Callaway Bulldogs opened Show-Me Conference play by easily throttling Tuscumbia 68-37.
South Callaway possessed a 34-20 halftime lead and pulled away in the second half by outscoring the Lions 34-17.
"We didn't shoot the ball well and didn't get in any good rhythm offensively," Bulldogs head coach Tony Brandt said. "But because of our energy defensively, we were able to get looks in transition."
Sophomore guard Blake Parker joined Helsel in double figures by adding 11 points for South Callaway (2-0). Senior guard Terry Miles was next with nine points, while senior guard Troy Hentges and senior forward Luke Horstman supplied eight apiece.
Horstman pulled down a team-high 10 rebounds and senior guard Cory Hanger had eight.
Orie Patterson paced Tuscumbia with 13 points and Zane Humphreys followed with 11.
"Tuscumbia is a big team and hurt us on the glass," Brandt said. "This was a good game for us early, to use as a teaching tool for our guys."
In the junior varsity contest, sophomore forward Grayson Peneston's 11 points directed the Bulldogs (2-0) to a 47-40 triumph.
South Callaway hosts Montgomery County in a non-conference matchup at 6 p.m. Tuesday.