By By Matthew Nascone
The Escambia County boy's basketball team has participated in two tournaments in 2005 and with their win Saturday they have won both of them.
The Blue Devils (8-1) defeated T.R. Miller 49-40 in the championship game of the County Tournament in Flomaton. ECHS head coach Jerome Antone said it was a hard-fought game on both sides.
"We played a great game and we played a 3-2 match-up zone and defended the outside shot," Antone said. "We changed to a press with five minutes to go in the game and that helped us pull out a win."
Antone said it was a good win for the team.
Frank Taylor had 17 points, Quartez James added 13 points and Chris Andrews had eight points with 12 rebounds.
The Blue Devils squared off with Flomaton Friday and came away with a 70-26 thumping of the Hurricanes on their home court. Antone said it was a good win, but he realized that the difference in classification led to the easy win.
"To be honest we had more athletes than they did, but that is because we are a 4A school and they are 1A school," Antone said. "We have a wider selection to choose from. They are real good ballplayers."
Playing a team such as Flomaton did give Antone a chance to play his bench players who do not get as much playing time.
"We let everyone play because I am not going to run up the score on them," Antone said. "Every guy I put in there took advantage of the opportunity he was given."
Taylor led the scoring against Flomaton with 22 points and he grabbed 10 rebounds.
"Taylor had a great game, he caused turnovers, he scored, he rebounded and he blocked shots, he was the complete package," Antone said.
Andrews poured in 19 points and had nine rebounds and James had 10 points and 12 assists.
Andrews was named the tournament MVP with 41 points in the three games the Devils played. James and Calvin Hartley were named to the all-tournament team.
"Hartley ran the offense well and he was chosen for his senior leadership," Antone said. "He was as consistent as any player in the tournament and that is all you can ask for."
The Blue Devils faced Clarke County Tuesday and that game coverage will be in Sunday's Advance. Up next for ECHS is the Clarke County Holiday Tournament Dec. 26-Dec. 28 in Clarke County.