Escambia County didn’t play up to its defensive potential earlier tonight against a scrappy Flomaton Hurricanes, but the Blue Devils prevailed in a 74-67 victory in the first round of the Cornell Torrence Tournament.

A team with only two seniors, the Hurricanes put together a game plan that included speed and accurate shooting.

“You’ve got to give them credit, they had a good game plan,” Blue Devils coach Bruce Craig said. “That was probably our worst defensive effort this year.”

ECHS took an early 7-2 lead in the first period, but FHS struck back to tie it with a 5-0 run.

Devon Robinson led the Blue Devils on a 4-0 run, and Devonte’ Lee drained a 3-pointer to go up 14-7.

Before the first buzzer, the ‘Canes got a runner to go to cut the lead to 15-10 going into the second period.

ECHS held a good advantage throughout the second period, but FHS called for the 3-pointer, draining some four treys with about 4 minutes left in the first half.

At the break, the Blue Devils led by a slim margin at 36-35.

Coming into the second half, ECHS changed up its defense a little bit to lean toward the man-to-man option as a means to take away Flomaton’s perimeter game. In addition, the Blue Devils trapped more at half court to try and slow down what was coming at them at full speed.

ECHS led 55-53 at the end of the third period.

Craig said changing the defense to a more man look helped ECHS late in the second half.

However, he said Flomaton did have some good shooters.

ECHS held its lead throughout the fourth period, but didn’t fair well at the free-throw line, shooting just over 50 percent.

Escambia County’s Chillé Ford led the Blue Devils with 17 points. Robinson and Lee chipped in 12 points each. Triston Knott had 8.

In other action, the Lady Blue Devils defeated W.S. Neal 40-38.

ECHS coach Jerome Webster said the first came out flat from the start.

“We started getting warm at the last part of the third quarter,” he said. “We’ve still got a lot of work to do.”

Jade Adams led ECHS with 19 points. Ja’Quanda Webster had 11.

ECHS will be back in action tomorrow night starting at 6. The girls play T.R. Miller, while the boys have the night cap against W.S. Neal.