BRIDGEPORT’S Brooke Stewart (11) is trapped by Monroe Central’s Kalista Friday, left, and Kynzi Bishop during Monday night’s home opener for the Bulldogs. Friday and Bishop teamed for 35 points as the Seminoles ran away with a 68-19 victory on Frank Baxter Court inside the John J. Havlicek Gymnasium.

BRIDGEPORT — As far as season openers go, Monroe Central’s Troy Baker will take it.

It being a 68-19 victory over homestanding Bridgeport in girls basketball action Monday night on Frank Baxter Court inside the John J. Havlicek Gymnasium.

The visitors led wire-to-wire with nearly the entire second half being played under the OHSAA’s newly instituted 35-point mercy rule.

“I thought we did some good things being our first game, but we also missed some easy baskets,” Baker said. “Defensively, I was pretty pleased with the way we moved and talked to each other.”

Monroe Central jumped out to a 9-0 lead before Hailie Aubrey got Bridgeport on the scoreboard. With the score 9-4, he Seminoles then went on a 16-0 run that spanned the first and second quarters to grab control, 25-4.

Senior all-Ohioan Kalista Friday netted 13 of her game-high 21 in the first half, including nine when the visitors made their move. Kynzi Bishop added 10 of her 14 before the intermission, which ended with a 44-11 reading.

“We just wanted to try and get some positives coming out of this game, and whenever you win, it’s a positive,” Baker noted. “We got a lot of bodies in. Our sixth and seventh players got a lot of playing time tonight.”

A conventional field goal by Friday made it 46-11 and kicked in the new rule.

In addition to her game-high point total, Friday also charted eight rebounds, a like number of steals and handed out three assists. Also reaching double digits were Morris with 11 and Haylyn Hiles with 10. The duo also split 10 rebounds, while Hiles swatted away five shots and Morris had four steals. Riley Bettinger had six points and a team-best nine rebounds off the bench.

One facet of the game that really pleased Baker was 14 assists on 26 made field goals.

“We passed up a lot of open looks, but we continued to pass the ball until someone was comfortable with their shot,” Baker said. “Of the remaining 12 field goals, probably 10 of those were layups. I was really happy with our assists tonight.”

Bridgeport (0-2) was paced by Bailey Dyson with eight points and four rebounds.

The Bulldogs were guilty of 25 turnovers — 17 in the first half and many unforced — and connected on just 4 of 32 shots from the floor.