By BAKER ELLIS / Sports Editor

After losing four seniors off of last season’s team, it was unclear how the Coosa Valley Lady Rebels basketball team would start out of the gate this season. If the first two games of the season are any indication, they seem to have adjusted just fine, as they have started the 2015-16 season with two wins by 24 and 28 points, respectively.

The Lady Rebels started the season on Nov. 9 with a game against South Montgomery Christian Academy, which they won 50-26 and never trailed, and led 27-11 at the half. Denise Niven had 20 points off of five three-pointers while Kalei Merrifield had 17 points, 10 rebounds and eight steals to lead Coosa Valley.

The next night on the back end of back-to-back sequence, Coosa Valley took on East Memorial Christian Academy out of Prattville. The second game was tighter through halftime, with Coosa Valley holding a slight 25-21 lead heading into the break. The Lady Rebels came roaring out of the half and went on a 23-1 run that spanned the entire third quarter to effectively put the game away, and won by a final score of 55-27.

In the second game of the season, Niven once again led the team in scoring with 25 points and six steals, while Merrifield had her second double-double with almost the exact same stat line as the first game, 16 points, 10 rebounds and five steals.