By the time Dianta Henson’s 3-pointer banked in the basket in the final seconds of the first half, the Mt. Zion High School boys basketball team had a 48-3 edge against the Georgia School for the Deaf on Tuesday night en route to a 60-23 win in the Eagles’ season opener.

That was even as MZ coach Bill Bailey encouraged his players to leave the Tigers open for 3-pointers of their own in the final minutes of the half. On this night, the Eagles (1-0) couldn’t help but build a big lead as they hit seven 3-pointers in the first half and nine for the game.

And though the outside shots were falling, Bailey said his team’s inside game must improve.

“We missed a lot of easy shots in front of the goal,” Bailey said.

Heard led the Eagles with 20 points, while Parrish Germany had eight and Henson pitched in seven. Argenis Baena scored all but three of GSD’s points, finishing with 20.

Mt. Zion scored the game’s first 41 points before Baena connected from beyond the arc with about 2:17 remaining in the first half.

Bailey said he saw some good things, including his team’s quickness, though there’s still plenty of room to improve as he continues to try to figure out his rotation.

Mt. Zion girls 63, Georgia School for the Deaf 18: The Lady Eagles (1-0) jumped to an 18-2 lead after a quarter, as Raven Chism scored eight of her team-high 12 points in the opening quarter, and didn’t look back.

MZ coach Millie Grimes said her team must play better going forward, though she was encouraged by being able to see what everyone could do.

Even on a tough shooting night, Mt. Zion was still able to break the 60-point mark, thanks in large part to a steady dose of fastbreak layups off Lady Tiger turnovers.

Grimes hopes it is the first of many 60-point nights.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to put up shots and score many (more) times up in the 60s,” Grimes said. “That would be nice.”

Jasmin Kierbow was 5-for-5 at the free throw line and scored 11 for the Lady Eagles, who host Temple on Friday. Hannah Wood pitched in nine points, with Shanequa Smith adding eight and Jasmine Jackson scored seven.

In other prep basketball action:

Oak Mountain boys 68, Heritage School (Newnan) 37: Seth Houston led the way for OMA with 38 points and 14 rebounds, while Matthew Gilleran added 13 points and five rebounds. Reed Wilson had eight points and five rebounds.

The Warriors (1-0) host Calvary in the first round of the OMA Thanksgiving Tournament on Friday at 8:30 p.m, right after the OMA girls play.

Heritage School 40, Oak Mountain 33: Maggie McMichael led the Lady Warriors (2-2) with 13 points, and Jessi Fuller added eight.