Avon Park pulls away from Desoto

The Avon Park boys basketball team continued its perfect start to the season, beating Desoto, 53-43, on Friday night to improve to 4-0 this season.

Playing their second consecutive road game, the Red Devils shook off a sluggish start and overwhelmed Desoto in the second quarter to pick up their second non-district win of the season.

"It was the first time this season that we played three games in a week," Avon Park coach Luther Clemons said, "and it kind of showed."

Alonzo Robertson scored 16 points, Vanderkel Clayton added 10 points, and Tekovan Miller and Averrie Conner had seven for the Red Devils, who, like it did against Hardee earlier in the week, exploded in the second quarter to establish a double-digit lead.

Avon Park led 30-22 at halftime and 40-32 after the third quarter, after the Red Devils "got used to the court and being away, in another gym," Clemons said.

It was another balanced attack from the Red Devils, who got a strong interior presence from Robertson and Cleveland Nobles and sharp shooting on the perimeter from their trio of guards - Reggie Baker (six points), Miller and Conner.

"That's what we've been doing all year, being pretty balanced across the board," Clemons said. "And that's good, that's what we want."

Despite having only a few practices to prepare for the season, Avon Park is off to a promising start while playing in a lower classification, 3-A.

"I think that'll help us," Clemons said. "We were the smallest school in 4A, and that's not good. We don't have to take those long trips across the state. Those wore us out."

Avon Park will play three games again this week, starting with tonight's district matchup against Fort Meade at 7:30 p.m. Then, the Red Devils travel to play Tenoroc on Thursday before returning home to host Hardee on Friday night.