The Denison-Schleswig Monarchs opened up the girls basketball season with a home win over the Atlantic Trojans on Tuesday night 66-35. The Monarchs used a 10-0 run to end the first quarter followed immediately by an 11-0 run early in the second quarter to blow the game open. Denison-Schleswig led 16-4 at the end of the first and grew the lead to 25 by half at 35-10. The Monarchs led by as many as 34 down the stretch.

The preseason Class 4A #14 Monarchs were led by 19 points from Paige Anderson. Three other players finished in double figures with Sarah Heilesen dropping down 15, Hannah Neemann with 14, and Alex Mohr chipped in 10 points.

Atlantic got 15 points from sophomore Haley Rasmussen in the loss. Baylee Newell finished with 8 points, all in the second half.

Atlantic falls to 0-2 on the early season and will host AC/GC for the Hall of Pride Scrimmage next Tuesday night which is a program to highlight community service projects sponsored by the Iowa Hall of Pride.

Denison-Schleswig opens at 1-0 and will next travel to Storm Lake on the 29th.