It’s hard to believe that Southside’s girls’ basketball game this evening will be just its eighth of the season. The Lady Seahawks’ campaign was hampered due to the long football season, much like their male counterparts.

The difference was that they were able to practice. The girls may not have had games, but they had the team ready to go. They had most, if not all of their personnel ready to go after a first-round exit from the volleyball playoffs on Oct. 26.

Of course, the beginning of the season presented a tough challenge when Southside had to take on Lejeune right off the bat. The Lady Devil Pups, who won the encounter by 20 points, are one of the top-three clubs in the 1-A Coastal Plains Conference.

All the practice in the world can’t always prepare a team for its first taste of live action. That was one of the things that plagued the Lady Seahawks. They turned the ball over 26 times in the season opener and didn’t run their offense the way they have since.

Southside has come a long way since, though. It swept its two games in South Creek’s holiday tournament, which included a decisive win over a Southeast Halifax team ranked among the top 50 teams in the 1-A classification.

There have been stumbles along the way. In their first game of the New Year, the Lady Seahawks suffered a 59-14 loss at Pamlico County. They showed plenty of toughness in the way they bounced back for a 49-46 win against Jones Senior just 24 hours later.

Southside most recently endured a hard-fought game against rival Northside. The Lady Panthers gave the hosting Lady Seahawks everything they could handle, and they were able to hang on for a 57-55 win.

The latter half of conference action lies ahead. It begins anew with a rematch against Lejeune. The Lady Seahawks have had a week off to prepare. That extra time to practice puts them in a good position to put the right foot forward as they fight for a top-three spot in the league.

This Southside team will be different — and much more confident — than the one Lejeune saw on Dec. 16. Danielle Ruffin will take more than three shots in the game. Symone Ruffin and Precious Gaynor will be more effective in running the floor. Michaela Dixon and Jusashia Golson will be more competitive on the boards. Quiet sharpshooters in Shantel Cannon and Jada Jones will be ready to knock down open looks.

Any ground gained is important, but this game could be pivotal for Southside. Over the course of their next three games, the Lady Seahawks will see an undefeated Pamlico County team and a Jones Senior group also intent on climbing the standings.

Whichever way things go, today will be a turning point.