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CHRIS HOFFMAN/HIGHLANDS TODAY

Avon Park's Ricky Taylor (12) drives past Pendleton defenders during the final game of the Bill Jarrett Ford Tip-Off Classic on Saturday.

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By Christopher  Hoffman | Highlands Today

Published: November 19, 2007

AVON PARK –– Shock and embarrassment were the feelings felt in the Avon Park locker room after being trounced by Orlando Christian Prep on their home floor on Friday. How they would respond was a mystery, until tip-off on Saturday.

A totally different and energized Red Devil squad stunned the Pendleton Panthers for most of the game, using a quality inside game and hitting open jumpers to build an early 15-point lead. But the young team's tanks went empty in the final three minutes, as the Panthers pulled away for a 64-58 win in the final day of the Bill Jarrett Ford Tip-Off Classic.

The turnaround could be attributed to an early-morning practice at the players' request.

"We played a whole lot better today that we did Friday," Clemons said. "This team didn't like getting embarrassed and they asked to practice this morning. I really feel that made a difference. I was really shocked at how the kids came out and played [against Orlando Christian Prep].

"Today, we played our hearts out and showed that this is what Avon Park basketball is suppose to look like."

Junior point guard Virgil Cooper was the conductor of the Red Devils symphonic offense, slicing through the Pendleton defense for the score or a pass for an easy shot for his teammates.

Cooper's reaction to the shocking loss on Friday prompted the extra practice and could be seen in his intensity against the Panthers, leading Avon Park with 13 points.

"I promise you that we won't ever get beaten like that again," Cooper said. "That loss really motivated us and I thought this team did a great job of controlling the tempo early and making shots. I think we just ran out of gas late in the game.

"We definitely will get better."

With another blowout seemingly on the horizon, Avon Park jumped on the Panthers early, streaking out to a 17-9 lead after one and taking a 15-point lead midway through the second quarter, but the Panthers fought back with a 17-3 run to cut the Red Devil lead to one at the half.

The second half was a see-saw affair, with both teams fighting for supremacy, and the lead changing hands eight times.

Down 45-44 to start the fourth quarter, Cooper drove through the heart of the Panther defense for the hoop and the foul. The three-point play tied the score and the game would be knotted once again at 52 with 3:05 left in the game.

That is the point when the Panthers had more in their reserve tanks, scoring on two straight Avon Park turnovers and Pendleton ended the game on a 12-6 run, but the Red Devils seemed happy about their quantum leap in improvement from the previous night.

"This is why we scheduled to play these teams," Clemons said. "It shows us where we are and where we need to be. They get exposed to top-flight competition and this is only going to help us down the road."

Pendleton was paced by guard Justin DuVarney with 18 points and center Dwight Powell and Josh Young who each had 15 points for the Panthers.

Avon Park is back on the court against cross-county rival Sebring on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. for the in-school game.

Orlando Christian Prep 77, Lake Placid 25

AVON PARK –– Center Keith Clanton scored 30 points and was dominant on the inside, as the Orlando Christian Prep Crusaders routed the Lake Placid Green Dragons on the second day of the Bill Jarrett Tip-Off on Saturday.

Lake Placid's shots were falling in the first quarter and was only down by six heading into the second stanza, but that is when the shots stopped for the Green Dragons.

The Crusaders full-court defense forced countless steals and the Lake Placid was held scoreless in the second, as Orlando Christian Prep took a 48-11 half time lead and never looked back.

Lake Placid's Conlin Veley scored eight points to lead the Green Dragons, while Andre Wilson chipped in six and Josh Hickey had five points in the loss.

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