Red Devils Plow Through Bulldogs

AVON PARK The four seniors on the Avon Park girls basketball team made sure they enjoyed their last regular-season home game.
Beonca Godfrey scored a game-high 12 points, Daija Barrett added 10, and Jamee Hawthorne and Brearnna Tate combined for 12 points and five steals to lead Avon Park to a 53-37 win over DeSoto on Friday night.
"It feels great to get a win against DeSoto, especially on senior night," Godfrey said. "They are a good team, but we came out with a lot of energy and jumped on them from the start.
"We four seniors have been together for four years and it meant a lot to us to win this game tonight."
The physical win has the Red Devils riding high heading into the Class 4A-District 10 tournament in two weeks.
"We had to do whatever it took to get a win tonight and we did," said Barrett. "It means so much to win on senior night and we have to play with the same kind of effort and intensity in the district tournament.
"We're playing well and we just need to stay patient, play smart and execute because we can play with any team in the tournament."
Both teams came out ice cold from the floor to open the game and DeSoto took a 7-5 lead into the second quarter.
Avon Park got its offense in gear as Barrett drove the lane for a pair of baskets and Hawthorne scored three of her six points to give the Red Devils an 18-16 lead at the half.
"The key was we kept our composure, stayed under control and showed some patience on offense," said Avon Park coach Paulette Daley. "We knew DeSoto was going to use a man-to-man defense and we had prepared for it.
"We looked for the extra pass and that set up some easy baskets for us."
Avon Park forward Johnequa Perry used her height advantage to score five of her 11  points in the paint and Tate hit a pair of jumpers to give the Red Devils a 33-29 lead heading into the final eight minutes.
Avon Park, which forced 18 turnovers, turned up the defensive pressure and took DeSoto out of its offense.
Godfrey used her quickness to penetrate the Bulldogs' defense and scored eight points, while Perry, who pulled down nine rebounds, chipped in with five points as the Red Devils steadily pulled away.
DeSoto's Chanelle Wilson and Anreka Bristol, who each scored 11 points, buried a pair of 3-pointers to pull the Bulldogs within eight points with less than four minutes remaining.
But an inside bucket by Perry and free throws from Hawthorne and Barrett sealed the hard-fought win over the Bulldogs.
"This was a great win, especially for the seniors," said Daley. "DeSoto is a good team, but Johnequa had a size advantage down low and she did a good job of working hard to get in good scoring position.
"I've seen the seniors grow in so many ways and they mean so much to me. Hopefully, we can do what we need to do in the district tournament to keep the season going."
Avon Park closes out its regular season with a road game at Frostproof on Monday. The Red Devils then host the District 10 tournament, beginning Feb. 2.
"We get to play on our home court in front of our fans and that's important," said Daley. "But we have to bring the whole package and play four quarters of solid basketball if we want to make a run in the tournament."
Mark Pinson can be reached at 863-386-5837 or mpinson@highlandstoday.com