Red Devils run past Panthers

Avon Park used balanced scoring and a smothering second-half defense to cruise past Mulberry by a score of 49-38 in boys district basketball on Thursday night.

Avierre Conner and Reggie Baker paced Avon Park with a team-high 10 points and Thad Johnson came off the bench to score all eight of his points in the second half as the Red Devils overcame a five-point halftime deficit.

"This game was a real character test for us," said Avon Park assistant coach Alvin Conner. "We had to learn not to beat ourselves.

"Thad came off the bench and had a great game and was definitely a difference maker for us."

The Class 3A-Distirct 9 loss dropped Mulberry to 9-2 on the season, while the win improved the Red Devils to 14-1 overall and gave them a season sweep of the Panthers.

"We want to run the floor, but we have to learn to slow it down and be under control," Coach Conner said. "We did a much better job in the second half of playing fast but under control."

Mulberry, which was looking to avenge a close loss to the Red Devils earlier in the season, came out aggressive and took the early momentum as Tony Brown scored four of his eight points and John Minnifield added four points to give the Panthers a 14-12 lead heading into the second quarter.

Avon Park, which struggled with its outside shots, had trouble getting the ball into its big men in the paint against a smaller but scrappy Mulberry squad.

The Panthers took advantage of several Red Devil turnovers and Lee Amos got loose inside the paint for six of his game-high 15 points as Mulberry extended its lead to 25-21 at the half.

Avon Park came out with renewed energy and focus to start the second half and quickly pulled even with the Panthers.

Baker scored four points and Conner added four to spark the Red Devils rally.

Avon Park kept the pedal to the metal in the final eight minutes as Johnson scored four points and the Red Devils dominated the boards, holding Mulberry to one shot on each possession.

Avon Park converted its free throw opportunities down the stretch to hold off the Panthers for a key district win.

The Red Devils, which lost their first game of the season to First Academy on Tuesday night, bounced back in convincing fashion to whip the Panthers.

"This was a good win for us and should give us a lot of confidence heading into the rest of the season," Coach Conner said.

Avon Park, which is in first place in District 9, is back in action with a key district road game at McKeel Academy in Lakeland on Tuesday.