By By Lori Dann
The Escambia County Lady Blue Devils have done it again.
The Lady Blue Devils, notorious for their slow starts but furious finishes, spotted No. 7 Vigor a six-point lead in the first half of their game against the Class 6A power. Then they came roaring back in the second half, outscoring the Lady Wolves 29-18 for a 54-49 victory.
It was ECHS' second win over a ranked opponent in the last week.
The Lady Blue Devils are off to the best start in school history at 9-0 with an impressive tournament title already in the bag. They are certain to be ranked in next week's Alabama High School Athletic Association State Poll.
Trenessa Rice helped key the second-half resurgence on the offensive end of the floor. She finished with 20 points, including six during the 15-10 third-period run.
Fenetrias Lewis added 12 points, Tamekia Crimbley had 10, Aleshia Stallworth had seven and Latonya Knotts added five.
But Knotts was one of the game's biggest keys on the defensive side, where she held Vigor's top scorer, Nicole Fisher, to just six points.
White also praised the defensive play of Crimbley and Stallworth in the middle as well as his guards with their fullcourt pressure.
April Pryor was Vigor's top scorer in the contest with 12 points.
ECHS also posted another win last week, defeating Hillcrest-Evergreen 62-51.
This time the Lady Blue Devils started quickly, outscoring Hillcrest 22-9 in the first quarter, 19-12 in the second and 14-12 in the third.
White cleared the bench in the final quarter and Hillcrest made up some ground with an 18-7 run. But they never cut the deficit lower than double digits.
Rice led a balanced offensive attack for the Lady Blue Devils with 18 points. Lewis followed with 15 and Knotts had 14.
Also scoring were Stallworth with five points, Crimbley and Pam Bynum with four each and Janet Wilson with two.
White attributes ECHS' quick start to its senior leaders.
ECHS will travel to Northview on Tuesday.