Devils Hold Off Dragons

LAKE PLACID - Virgil Cooper had 10 points and Alonzo Robertson and Teddy Allen each added eight on Friday night as the Avon Park boys basketball team held off an inspired Lake Placid squad for a 44-39 victory in a cross-county showdown.

"We played as a team and were focused," said Cooper, whose team watched its eight-point halftime lead dwindle to four with five minutes left before finishing off the Dragons late. "When we play together, we share the ball, and it's a lot more fun."

The Green Dragons, meanwhile, were fresh off a 46-point thumping by Sebring on Thursday night and played inspired ball down the stretch. Senior Conlin Veley had nine points in what could've been his final home game, while Andre Wilson and Travalier Sholtz each added eight points.

"We got embarrassed the other night," Veley said. "We wanted to show everyone that wasn't us."

AP's full-court press wreaked havoc on the LP offense for much of the first half, forcing turnovers and leading the Devils to easy buckets.

"We pressed a bit, but then we got a running too fast," said Avon Park coach Luther Clemons. "That's our biggest problem: We're like the Energizer bunny, and sometimes we get ahead of ourselves."

The Devils traveled to Okeechobee on Saturday night. They open district tournament play on Tuesday against Hardee. The Dragons have a few days off before taking on Mulberry in the opening round of their regional tournament, Friday at 7:45 p.m.

"I've talked a lot about teamwork this year," said Clemons, who noted his team split with the Wildcats this season. "No matter what happens next week, we've improved a lot as a team, and we're a family."

Lake Placid coach Levi Williams said a win at Mulberry (who LP split with this year) would be some redemption for what's been a roller-coaster season.

"It would be huge for us to make the state tournament," Williams said. "At that point, everyone's 0-0, and it would erase a lot of wrongs from this season."