The Goshen boys’ basketball team did something last Friday they were not able to do all of last year. With a 56-39 victory over Florala the team won their season opener a season after going 0-18.

“To win the season opener after going 0-18 the previous year was more of a confidence builder than anything else,” GHS head coach Jonathan Deveridge said. “These guys have worked real hard in the preseason in the weight room and I was just happy for them.”

Deveridge said the Eagles led 22-17 at halftime, but they came out in the second half and turned on the afterburners.

“We came out in the second half and turned up the intensity,” he said. “We were up 22-17 at the half and we told the guys that we have to turn it up and they did just that. We had a 23-point lead at one point and we ended up winning by 19.”

But Deveridge made sure to warn his players not to slack off now that they have more wins than they did all last year.

“We got that first one, but we want to make sure we stay on them because we don’t want them to think that just because they got that first one they can relax,” Deveridge said. “If we relax we could slip back into those same habits we had last year and we want to make sure that does not happen.”

Deveridge also celebrated his 28th birthday the day after the victory, but he had an early celebration at the game.

“The guys told me that the win was my early birthday present and the cheerleaders had the whole crowd sing happy birthday to me,” Deveridge said. “It was nice for my first career win as a head coach.”

Justin Senn led the Eagles with 21 points, including 6-of-9 shooting from behind the three-point line.

Antwan Boswell added 16 points. Austin Bennett and Tyreese Wingard had eight points apiece and freshman Reginald Foster contributed six points, 15 rebounds and three blocked shots.

“Any time a freshman can put up numbers like that is a good thing,” Deveridge said.

The Eagles are off for the Thanksgiving holiday until they head to the Geneva County Tournament Dec. 5-6.