Defending champion Davenport Assumption is another step closer to a return trip to the Class 3A title game.

The top-ranked Knights raced to a 16-0 lead and beat a young Red Oak team 71-25 to start this year’s 3A tournament.

Assumption has shown great balance all season and it was evident again as the Knights improved to 23-2 for the season. All five starters scored in the opening burst and three players finished with 12 points each to lead the team — Danielle Moore, Morgan Pavlich and Maddie Irmen. Kate Fennelly added eight points for the Knights, who are in the tournament for the fourth straight year and ninth time in the last 10 seasons.

Moore also had six assists and six steals. Pavlich went 4-for-6 from three point range and had three steals. Irmen shot 5-for-6 from the field and Fennelly was 2-for-4 from 3-point range. Assumption played aggressive defense throughout and amassed 19 steals.

Twelve players scored for the Knights and things went so well that reserve Kennedy King banked in a 3-pointer from the left wing.

After going undefeated in the Class 5A-heavy Mississippi Athletic Conference, Assumption has been cruising through the postseason so far, winning by margins of 33, 34, 42 and now 46 points.

Red Oak earned its first state tournament trip in 90 years with a lineup of three juniors and two sophomores, so the Tigers might not have to wait as long for their next trip. Sophomore Kate Walker led Red Oak with 10 points and junior Blake Bergren scored seven.

Assumption will play in the semifinals at 3:15 Thursday afternoon. Red Oak finishes with a 13-12 record.