Avon Park cruises to preseason win

Cleveland Nobles got the call Friday afternoon, just hours before his final football game of the season.

Basketball practice, the first of the season, would be on Saturday, 11 a.m. sharp.

Apparently, three days is more than enough preparation for a season he hopes ends in the Lakeland Center, site of the state playoffs.

Sophomore Reggie Baker scored a team-high 14 points and Nobles added 13, pacing Avon Park to a 61-49 win over Mulberry in the Bill Jarrett Tip-Off Tournament on Tuesday night in the Red Devils gym.

"It was pretty sloppy, really," Avon Park coach Luther Clemons said. "But it's the first game, and since the football players have been with us for just two practices, we've just got to get better."

Still, it was an auspicious start to the season for the Red Devils, who will play Clewiston at 7:30 p.m. tonight. Clewiston came from behind to beat Sebring, 58-55, in the opener on Tuesday. With Nobles and Alonzo Robertson, who picked up three quick fouls in the first half Tuesday and was a non-factor after halftime, Avon Park figures to have a significant advantage in the paint.

Well, assuming the Red Devils shore up their defense, Clemons said.

"I'm just not happy with the defense," he said. "It was lacking Tuesday night and we've really got to turn it up."

Lee Amos scored 18 of his game-high 26 points for Mulberry, which never closed within eight points over the final 6 minutes, despite all of Avon Park's noted struggles.

"We did pretty good on offense," Baker said, "but defense, we've really got to step it up."

Clemons was pleased with the progression of freshman guard Tyris Godfrey, who sank a long jump shot from the right wing as time expired. Michael Rhoden and Thad Johnson also played big minutes for the Red Devils.

"Those guys came in and played a great game," Clemons said.

In typical preseason fashion, it was sluggish in the first quarter, with Avon Park turning the ball over in transition and forcing entry passes to the post players. Then, the Red Devils turned to Nobles, a 6-foot-6, 265-pounder.

"We came out a little sloppy," he said, "but I just tried to use my size to my advantage and use my body."

Avon Park opened up a 29-21 halftime lead, pushing it to 44-35 late in the third quarter after Nobles hit a rare 3-pointer from the left corner.

Mulberry never drew closer than eight points - 52-44 with 2:46 remaining - in the fourth quarter.

Avierre Conner added 12 points, including two 3-pointers, for the Red Devils, who will be without guard Teddy Allen (hamstring) for at least a week.