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Highlands Today Staff Report

Published: January 26, 2008

Updated: 01/26/2008 04:07 pm

Tigers Edge Red Devils
PALMETTO — Avon Park sophomore forward Cleveland Nobles scored a game-high 27 points, but 24 turnovers were too much to overcome as the Red Devils lost to Palmetto 64-62 in Class 4A-District 10 boys basketball on Friday night.

"It was a strange game," said first-year Avon Park coach Luther Clemons. "We only had seven players because of some injuries, but we still had our chances to win.

"Cleveland had a solid game and was able to dominate inside, we just didn't have much to go with it."
Avon Park went into the half trailing by six points, but the score was tied when the Red Devils came out to warm up for the second half.

"The guy running the scoreboard had given Palmetto some of our points and we didn't realize it at the time," said Clemons. "But when they checked the books at halftime, they found the mistake and corrected it.

"The scoreboard at Palmetto is high above the floor and you can't really see it very well, but at least they got it right."

Avon Park, despite having little depth, managed to stay close to the Tigers and had a chance to tie or win the game in the final seconds.

The last few attempts refused to fall and Palmetto escaped with the win.

Xavier Caldwell had 11 points and eight rebounds and Ricky Taylor added eight points for the Red Devils in a losing cause.

"We had some good looks at the basket, but couldn't get the ball to fall for us," said Clemons. "We didn't make as many turnovers in the second half, but we were only seven of sixteen from the free throw line.

"If we make our free throws, we win the game."

Avon Park has an away game at Lake Placid on Thursday and travels to Okeechobee for its last regular season game on Friday, before competing in the district tournament next week in Palmetto.

"It would be good to get a couple of wins to get our confidence up," said Clemons. "We need to get ready for the district tournament because any team in our district has a chance to win.

"If we play smart, execute our offense and don't turn the ball over, we have a chance to make a run at the title."

GIRLS BASKETBALL: Okeechobee 45, Avon Park 39

OKEECHOBEE — The fouls piled up on the Avon Park Red Devils and the key baskets needed to get over the hurdle that was Okeechobee never materialized on Friday night.

"We had girls in foul trouble early and that really took us out of our game plan," AP head coach Paulette Daley said. "The girls played hesitant and we just couldn't get the shots we needed down the stretch.

"This is the one that slipped away from us. It was a very winnable game."

The Red Devils will rest up over the weekend and get ready to face DeSoto in the first round of the Class 4A-District 10 tournament at Booker High School in Sarasota.

Daley and her team are upbeat going into the tournament, despite the season-ending loss.

"We're very positive about how far we've come this season," Daley said. "This team has improved and won't take DeSoto lightly going into the tournament, even though we swept them in the season series.

"This is a whole new season come tournament time."

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