By By Matthew Nascone
After losing a tough game at home to the McIntosh Lady Demons Friday, the Escambia County Lady Blue Devils basketball team went on a winning tear. After a 70-19 defeat of Citronelle Tuesday, the Lady Devils had won three straight. And the wins were all blowouts.
"Our press is working well for us," ECHS head coach Todd Reynolds said. "And our girls are really starting to play together and we are getting off to hot starts in all of our games."
And the starters are not the only players who have been able to gel on the court.
"We had our backups in for the fourth quarter against Citronelle, and they outscored Citronelle 12-4," Reynolds said. "And they ran the half-court press well. It is always good to know the girls on the bench can step in there and execute the game plan. And you always want your players to have confidence. And with the playing time they have received, they look confident out there."
During the three-game dominating stretch the Lady Devils (6-3) have outscored their opponents 195-73 and have not allowed more than 33 points.
The most recent massacre was the Tuesday game against Citronelle. Reynolds said Atmore got out to a hot start, leading after the first quarter by the count of 22-2. And he said they kept pouring it on until the end.
Jasmine Sanders racked up her second triple-double in as many games with 14 points, 10 rebounds and 11 steals. Ashanti Jones led all players with 19 points and Latesha Lee added 10 points and three steals.
Lady Devils 68 – W.S. Neal 33
Jasmine Sanders led the way again for the Atmore Lady Blue Devils with 11 points, 11 rebounds and 11 steals as ECHS took down rival W.S. Neal, 68-33 Dec. 4 in East Brewton. ECHS head coach Todd Reynolds said the reason for Sanders' domination was simple.
"We put such good pressure on the other team in the front court, so it is easy to get her points," Reynolds said. "And she reads the passing lanes so well. And she also has a nose for the ball on rebounds."
Reynolds said even though his squad is winning big, there is still some work to be done.
"We have some things we need to work on, but the main thing is having intensity on the court," he said. " And our girls have that intensity and I love that."
Courtney English dropped in 14 points off the bench for Atmore and Ashley Kidd contributed eight points and eight rebounds.
Lady Devils 57 – Baldwin County 21
The Atmore Lady Blue Devils were never out of control in their 57-21 rout of the AHSAA Class 6A Baldwin County Lady Tigers Dec. 2.
"We executed the game plan well," ECHS head coach Todd Reynolds said. "We got a good press and that created a lot of turnovers for us."
The Lady Devils did not allow a point in the first quarter and led 43-11 at halftime. Reynolds said he took his starters out halfway through the third quarter.
Jasmine Sanders and Ashanti Jones scored 16 points each to lead the Lady Devils. Latesha Lee added 10 points and Courtney English contributed six steals.
Atmore traveled to Bay Minette to face Baldwin County yesterday and the results will be in an upcoming Advance. The squad travels to T.R. Miller High School in Brewton for the Escambia County Tournament Dec. 14-16.
The girls face W.S. Neal at 3:30 p.m. Dec. 14, Flomaton at 3:30 p.m. Dec. 15 and T.R. Miller at 6 p.m. Dec. 16.