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Highlands Today

AP Pummels Frostproof In Girls Hoops

Chris Hoffman/Highlands Today

Avon Park's Ja'mee Hawthorne finished with six points and three steals against Frostproof on Monday.

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By CHRIS HOFFMAN

Highlands Today

Published: December 9, 2008

Updated:

AVON PARK - Chantel Hugley came off the bench to score 10 points and Daija Barrett led Avon Park with 13 points, as the Red Devils held Frostproof without a field goal and pummeled the Bulldogs 58-2 on Monday.

Center Brearnna Tate felt for the Bulldogs, as she watched the points pile on in a hurry under the defensive pressure by the Red Devils.

"I felt bad for Frostproof during the game," Tate said. "It's hard to watch sometimes when you see a team trying their best, but not able to penetrate our defense. You want to just stop the game and end the suffering, but you still have to go out and play the game."

Avon Park's 2-3 pressure defense accounted for 25 steals, as the Red Devils scored nearly at will against the Bulldogs to build a 44-2 lead at half time that led to a running clock in the second half.

Head coach Paulette Daley said that this was the most lopsided win she's seen since she's been associated with Avon Park basketball and she was pleased by what she saw from her team, especially her bench.

"This gave me a chance to learn what my bench can actually do," Daley said. "We were able to integrate some bench players with the starters and try and develop some chemistry that might help us down the line.

"This really was a confidence booster for us as we set to play Sarasota Booker on Tuesday. We went out and executed our game plan and it was important that we kept our edge during this game."

Brekayla English scored six points and a team-leading five steals and four assists, while Ja'mee Hawthorne scored six points, as the Red Devils scored 23 and 21 points in the first and second quarter, respectively.

Frostproof's ball handlers were harassed at every turn, which forced turnovers on nearly every possession, as the Bulldogs failed to record a field goal in the game with both points coming on free throws.

Avon Park (4-3 overall, 3-1 district) has won two straight games, after suffering a three-game losing streak that derailed the momentum that the Red Devils had to start the season.

Braden River embarrassed Avon Park 51-37 on their home court and missed free throws cost them in a 48-47 loss to the physical Fort Meade Miners last week that exposed weaknesses in the Red Devils game.

The lack of success at the free throw line and their lack of size in the middle could hurt them against the more physical teams like Braden River and DeSoto.

Daley believes that games like this against Frostproof can rekindle her team's desire and get them back on track as they face Sarasota Booker and DeSoto - two important Class 4A-District 10 match-ups that could decide where Avon Park stands in the district.

"We needed to be playing really well heading into this week," Daley said. "After dropping a game to Braden River, we can't afford to let these games slip away.

"We've got the talent to play with anyone in our district, but it's the question of which Avon Park team shows up to play."

The Red Devils faced Sarasota Booker on Tuesday. See Thursday's Highlands Today for complete results, including photos and reaction.

Avon Park travels to face district foe DeSoto at 7:30 p.m. on Friday.

Chris Hoffman can be reached at 863-386-5837 or choffman@highlandstoday.com

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