GOREVILLE - Brittany Hood scored a game-high 21 points Wednesday to lead Goreville to a 48-26 win over Sesser-Valier-Waltonville in girls basketball.

The Blackcats' defense stifled the Lady Red Devils, who committed 20 turnovers and shot 38 percent from the floor. The loss ended S-V-W's five game-winning streak.

"This is a different type of defense than we're used to seeing and we didn't attack it," said S-V-W coach Brian Gibson. "We just kind of stood around a little bit and we let them dictate the pace of the game."

Goreville - leading 36-17 at the half - opened the third quarter on a 16-0 run. Hood led the way with six points during the burst, while teammate Cayla Harner added five. Harner finished with 11 points for the Blackcats (13-4).

"Brittany wasn't feeling well tonight and I tried to sit her when I could," Goreville coach Mike Helton said. "You could tell she was a little out of sorts to start the game, but Harner did a great job and the rest of the kids did a great job of rotating over on defense."

Kate Laird finally ended the Lady Red Devils' second-half struggles with a 3-pointer at the 1-minute mark in the third quarter. The junior hit three 3-pointers and finished with 11 points.

S-V-W (9-7) slowed down Goreville's attack in the fourth quarter, forcing quick shots and holding the hosts to 12 points. The Lady Red Devils also cut down on their turnovers, committing only three.

"We definitely played better later in the game," Gibson said. "And I told them that's all I'm looking for � just for them to play hard."

Helton was happy with his team's defensive effort late in the game, but said his offense has to learn how to take better shots in order to close out games more effectively.

"When we had the cushion I think we let up a little bit," Helton said. "But I think every time our offense didn't score, our defense made a good stop."

Goreville led 11-4 after the first quarter before both teams went cold. Ashley Slack's free throws three minutes before halftime were the first points of the second quarter. The two teams combined for 4-of-13 shooting and 13 turnovers in frustrating frame.

"We were able to get the ball into the lane but we did it too soon in the possession," Helton said. "We're young and we'll continue to learn."

Slack and Emmalee Metcalf combined for 10 points for S-V-W, which next plays at Pope County on Saturday. Goreville hosts Meridian tonight in a South Egyptian Conference battle.