ROGERS — Rogers Heritage coach Kevin Ramey wanted his team to push Gentry further away from the basket, keeping the Lady Pioneers guards out of their comfort zone and the ball out of the hands of 6-4 center Heather Marshall.

The Lady War Eagles forced 18 Gentry turnovers and pulled away from the Lady Pioneers en route to a 54-33 victory in girls high school basketball Tuesday night at War Eagle Arena.

Ramey was pleased with the way his team executed a game plan well on the defensive end and played unselfishly on the offensive end.

Heritage (2-0) held Marshall and senior guard Tara Arnold to just nine points apiece and they led the Lady Pioneers (2-1) in scoring for the night.

“We talked about we respect those kids (Marshall and Arnold and what they can do offensively,” Ramey said. “We wanted to get up and get into them. I thought Ellen Lundy was extremely active defensively,” Ramey said. “I was very proud of how we played. We were disruptive.”

The Lady War Eagles took control midway through the second quarter with a 10-0 run fueled by four Gentry turnovers. Lundy, a 6-0 senior, keyed the run with a steal, two assists and two free throws.

Lundy started and finished the run with assists. She fed Ashley Ward cutting to the basket for a layup off a halfcourt set to start the spurt, then finished it with a steal and feed to Brittany Ward, who converted a three-point play for a 30-15 lead with 33.4 seconds left in the first half. Heritage was never seriously challenged again.

“I think we can be dangerous when we share the basketball,” Ramey said. “We did that tonight. We didn’t care who scored. We can hurt you different ways and tonight we had three in doubles, one with eight and another one with seven.”

Lundy finished with 11 points for Heritage. Brittany Ward finished with a game-high 17 and Lacey Murray added 11.

Gentry coach Tim Rippy said his team struggled to even initiate an half-court offense at times Tuesday. The Lady Pioneers are also still learning to play with Marshall, who moved to Gentry this year.

“It was a process that started early in the game,” Rippy said. “They were able to force some turnovers out high and get out in transition and get some easy baskets. We’ve got to start taking better care of the basketball. We’re definitely struggling to get the ball to her right now and that’s something we’ve talked about and working to get better at.

Rippy came away impressed with Heritage’s execution, especially being so early in the season.

“They take care of the basketball so well,” Rippy said. “I know they have a good nucleus of seniors, but they look their executing in midseason form right now.”