PREP RUNDOWN

Devils Slip Past Pirates
BRADEN RIVER - Cleveland Nobles scored a team-high 16 points and Virgil Cooper chipped in nine as the Avon Park boys basketball team edged Braden River 39-38 in the Class 4A-District 10 match-up on Tuesday.
The Red Devils nearly repeated the scenario of an early season overtime loss to the Pirates. Leading by a basket, an Avon Park foul put Braden River on the line with no time left for a chance to send the game into OT, but the Pirate shooter hit only one free throw and the visiting Devils squeaked by with the win.
AP head coach Luther Clemons was extremely happy for the improved execution of his Red Devil squad.
"We're playing a lot better," Clemons said. "We're still on this roller-coaster though - up and down - and I'm looking for more consistency from this team."
A slower pace and a cut down in turnovers gave more scoring chances for Avon Park, a trend that Clemons hopes to continue in the upcoming district tournament.
"If we listen and execute, we win - it's that simple," Clemons said. "There is a good ball club in there. You just have to find it."
Avon Park is back on the court Thursday, when they host Lake Placid at 7:30 p.m.

GIRLS BASKETBALL: Pendleton 66, Avon Park 22
BRADENTON - Avon Park guard Beonca Godfrey scored a team-high 10 points but the Pendleton girls basketball team trounced Avon Park 66-22 on Tuesday night.
AP head coach Paulette Daley knew this was going to be a rough game - which is precisely the reason she scheduled it so close to the district tournament.
"I wanted my girls to play a team with a higher talent level than we've been facing in our district," the AP head coach said. "I don't want my girls to be intimidated like they were tonight when we get to the tournament."
The Panthers pressing defense forced numerous Avon Park turnovers, which Pendleton turned into easy baskets. The Panthers also hurt the visiting team with inside and outside shots and with their seamless execution.
This game afforded the Red Devils a chance to work on their man-to-man defense - a strategy best suited come tournament time - and worked on some different plays in a game that could go a long way down the road.
"We worked on some executions and tried some different things tonight," Daley said. "I think we just need to get some confidence in some of the girls and we'll be fine. They all hustled and played really well despite going up against an extremely talented team.
Avon Park ends the regular season on Friday when they travel to face Okeechobee at 7:30 p.m.

GIRLS BASKETBALL: Fort Meade 49, Lake Placid 27
FORT MEADE - Lake Placid failed to come out with the same intensity they showed against Frostproof on Friday, as the Fort Meade girls basketball team used its size advantage to repel the listless Green Dragons 49-27 on Tuesday.
With several girls out with illness, LP played a very scrappy game but lacked the teamwork and ball handling to compete against the Miners, turning the ball over and putting up too many poor shots.
"We just played bad," LP head coach Shonda LaGree said. "We didn't play like I know we're capable of and the way we played against Frostproof. They showed me in that game that they can compete and be a contender in our league.
"I just don't understand why we can't play with that intensity every night."
Kaneisha Hamilton led the Green Dragons with 10 points. LP returns to action tonight at Hardee and again on Friday night at LaBelle. Both games are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. tips.

BOYS BASKETBALL: Hardee 63, Lake Placid 31
WAUCHULA - A lack of rebounding and scoring put Lake Placid behind the eight-ball against a taller Hardee boys basketball squad, as the 'Cats streaked out to a lead and never looked back in a 63-31 victory over the Green Dragons on Tuesday.
"They exploited their size advantage and we didn't make the proper adjustments," said LP head coach Levi Williams. "I hope this game wakes our guys up and show them that they have to compete from start to finish in every game."
Junior Travalier Sholtz led the way for the Green Dragons with 12 points and Conlin Veley scored seven points in the loss.
The Green Dragons travel to Avon Park Thursday night at 7:30 p.m.