AP's Baker, Clayton help bury Miners

Every chance they got, the Fort Meade players slumped over and rested their hands on their knees.

Hard to blame them - it's exhausting trying to keep up with Avon Park's up-tempo offense.

Using their full compliment of guards, the Red Devils ran an ill-prepared Fort Meade team all over the court during a 71-42 rout on Monday night.

"To start 3-0 in the district," Avon Park coach Luther Clemons said, "that's wonderful. We want to do very well in the district, and maybe some people will take notice of Avon Park."

Oh, people are noticing.

The Red Devils improved to 5-0 this season, winning their past three games by an average of 22 points.

This district game, however, was a mismatch from the start.

Explosive in transition, Avon Park established a double-digit lead within the first two minutes of the game, cranking up the pressure on Fort Meade with a full-court press.

And for good reason: The Miners were playing their first game of the season, after nearly their entire roster - varsity, JV and freshman levels - was on the football team that advanced deep into the state playoffs. They practiced for only two hours this weekend.

"We played well as a team," Clemons said. "We're tough to keep up with when we're making good decisions and playing smart."

Avon Park's backcourt tandem of Reggie Baker (game-high 26 points) and Vanderkel Clayton combined to score 47 points - five more than Fort Meade managed the entire game.

"That's pretty good, dang," Clemons said, unaware after the game of the duo's high-scoring night. "I don't think that's ever happened, not for guards."

Clayton, who served a four-game suspension to start the season, scored 21 points and picked up the slack on an uncharacteristically poor shooting night from Avierre Conner (four points). Clayton harassed the Miners into several errant passes and forced turnovers when they failed to break the press.

"He's come back with a vengeance," Clemons said of Clayton. "He makes us better. Everybody likes each other, and he just adds to that.

"He's our energizer bunny - he brings the energy."

And Clayton brought it from the start.

Avon Park opened the game on an 18-4 run. The Red Devils exploded for 27 first-quarter points - it took Fort Meade until midway through the third quarter to reach that mark - and led by 18 at halftime on the strength of Baker and Clayton, who combined for 28 first-half points.

They also used their distinct size advantage inside, with Alonzo Robertson (14 points) and Cleveland Nobles clearing out space in the paint.

The Miners, not surprisingly, couldn't hit much from the floor. And from behind the 3-point line. And from the free-throw line. Their leading scorer was Brandon Fulse (13 points), the only Fort Meade player to score in double figures.

Even while playing mostly reserves in the second half, Avon Park continued to push the tempo at a breakneck pace. It led 60-32 after third quarter.

And it only got more one-sided from there.