After enduring a tough 5-17 campaign last year, the Tiverton girls basketball team got things off to a good start Friday with a 46-40 Injury Fund win over Shea on Tiverton’s home court.

Amber Silva, the team’s only senior, led Tiverton scorers with 14 points. Katie Phillips and Lauren Gamache each pitched in 6.

“We aren’t the biggest team so we’re going to be challenged defensively inside by teams that have size,” said coach Doug Wilson. That was the case against Shea whose star player scored 30 of the team’s 40 points. “But we covered the rest of their team well,” especially in the second half.

Tiverton led by one point at halftime and went on the a 6 point win.

“We have a group of five good guards” some of whom got thrown into significant action ahead of schedule as sophomores, Coach Wilson said.

“But now we are reaping the rewards of that because they gained some great experience … I was really encouraged by the girls’ effort and intensity.”

The Tiverton squad has 18 players, seven of them are straight varsity and four of whom play both varsity and JV.

The three captains are senior Silva and juniors Ireland McGreavy and Haley Mendoza.