Georgiana's boys basketball team follows a trend that most teams follow and that is to play to the level of its competition.

Facing a 1-14 Flomaton squad, the Panthers committed numerous turnovers and missed several layups.

It didn't last long after Georgiana coach Jerome Harris III had a heart to heart with his team at intermission. The Panthers opened the second half with a 10-2 run to reclaim their lead before cruising to a 61-54 victory over the Hurricanes Thursday night.

&#8220We came out with a lot more energy in the second half, reduced our turnover and converted our layups,” Harris said of his team's play.

The win also broke a two game slide. Georgiana closed out the T.R. Miller Christmas Classic with a 20-plus point loss to St. Paul's of Mobile and then opened the new year with a loss on the road at Red Level.

&#8220The win is a plus for my team,” Harris said. &#8220We got beat bad by St. Paul's and then lost to Red Level, so we needed a win to get some confidence.”

And the road ahead doesn't get any easier for the Panthers. Georgiana played area rival Kinston Friday night before playing three games in five days next week against Š..

&#8220We've got a big test ahead of us,” Harris said.

Flomaton hung in the game for the entire first half, while the Panthers struggled. After playing to a 15-15 stalemate in the opening period, Hurricane forward Scott Walton drained three-straight free throws to give his team a 3-point lead at the half.

Georgiana then found its shooting touch and began to take control of the game. Following the Panthers' 10-2 run, Georgiana continued to pressure Flomaton all 94 feet of the basketball court to build an 11-point lead with 2:45 left in the period.

But once Georgiana eased off the pressure, the Hurricanes came right back. Flomaton outscored the Panthers 6-2 in the final two and a half minutes to settle for a 42-35 deficit heading into the final period.

Flomaton then drained back-to-back buckets to open the fourth period to draw within three of Georgiana, but that would be as close as the Hurricanes would come for the remainder of the game.

The Panthers went on a 13-4 run over the next two minutes to build their largest lead of 12 points with 4:52 left to play before settling for a 61-54 victory.

While Harris' boys team notched its first win of the new year, the Georgiana girls are still searching for their first win of the season.

The Lady Panthers held Flomaton scoreless in the third period, but still fell 30-27.

Patrice Cheatham led Georgiana with eight points, while Tenisha Paige added seven.

Ashley Conrad and Jodi Lisenby paced the Lady Hurricanes with eight points each.

On Tuesday, homestanding Red Level outscored Georgiana 20-6 in the fourth period to come away with a 53-46 win.

Cheatham led the Lady Panthers with a game-high 14 points, while Anna Nelson chipped in 10.

BreAnna Pate and Erica Crawford led Red Level with 11 points each. Adrianna Calloway added 10.