This was a game that Greenville girls basketball coach Ronald Bogan had been waiting for.

Only it took more than two months before it happened.

After a sluggish first half, Greenville erupted in the third period to outscore Carroll-Ozark 25-2 before cruising to an easy, but key area victory over the Lady Eagles on Friday.

Greenville evened its overall record to 10-10 on the season while improving to 2-3 in the area with the 58-33 victory.

&#8220We were faced with a challenge tonight, and our girls stepped up,” Boggan said. &#8220This was the best game we've played all year. And we needed this win not just because it's an area win, but for our confidence.”

The Lady Tigers also pulled the victory out without one of its leading scorers. Senior forward Kendra Mitchell was sidelined with a 102-degree fever.

With Mitchell out, Mardedria Thomas stepped up to be one of three Lady Tigers to post double figures in the victory. Thomas finished with 12 points, while Katroria McDonald led Greenville with 19. LaKetta Bonner added 10 points, and Mikki Harris had nine.

Shamika Stapleton led Carroll (7-8) with 16 points.

In the boys varsity game, Edward Searight, Isiah Mack and Darrell Carter scored 11 points each to lead the Tigers to a 63-52 victory over Carroll-Ozark.

Greenville jumped out to a 14-11 lead after the first eight minutes and then opened the second period on a 11-3 run to build a comfortable lead before settling for a 31-26 advantage at intermission.

Carroll continued to trim into Greenville's lead throughout the third period before settling for a 43-42 lead by the end of the period.

Mack scored seven of his 11 points in the fourth period to close out the victory for the Tigers.

Larry Donnell led the Eagles (10-10) with 14 points.