NOLENSVILLE — In the season opener at Nolensville, the Shelbyville Central Golden Eaglettes couldn't sustain their hot start and dropped their first game in a low-scoring affair, 33-28.

The early returns looked good for the Eaglettes, having doubled up the Lady Knights 16-8 by the end of the first quarter.

Paige Blackburn provided the perimeter attack with a pair of first-quarter threes, while Lilly Brown added four points.

As solid of a start as the game was for the Eaglettes, the offense ground to a halt in the second frame and Nolensville charged ahead.

Lady Knight center Zoe Piller exploded in the second quarter for 11 of her game-high 22 points.

Shelbyville, meanwhile, couldn't get a single shot to drop and saw the Lady Knights carry a 24-16 lead into the half.

Although both teams posted 16-point quarters in the first half, the offenses struggled to find any consistency for both squads in the second half as the two teams combined for just 21 points.

The Eaglettes held Nolensville to just three points in the third frame and trailed by just five after three quarters, but just couldn't come up with enough offense in the clutch to finish a comeback bid of their own.

Paige Blackburn led the Eaglettes with eight points, while Kelsey Harden chipped in seven points.

The Eaglettes didn't get to the line much in the opener, but proved efficient once there.

Harden was the only Shelbyville player to attempt a free throw, but connected on 5 of 6 tries.

The Eaglettes closed the opening week of the season on Friday evening at Cannon County.

SCHS 16 0 6 6 — 28

Nolensville 8 16 3 6 — 33

SCHS: Paige Blackburn 8, Kelsey Harden 7, Lilly Brown 6, Jaleigha Harris 4, Kendall Dearing 3.

Nolensville: Zoe Piller 22, Chloe Earls 6, Caymin Ladd 2, Paige Dickinson 2, Sara Grubesic 1.

3-Point goals: Nolensville (3): Earls 2, Piller; SCHS (2): Blackburn 2.

Halftime score: Nolensville 24, SCHS 16.