By By Matthew Nascone
The Monroe County Lady Tigers took away the scoring threat of Escambia County junior Courtney English Friday night, but senior Latesha Lee stepped up on Senior Night and had a season-high 20 points to lead the Lady Devils to a 59-40 victory.
"They box and oned us," ECHS head coach Ray Greer said. "We were prepared for it and the offense kept rolling without Courtney scoring a lot. Latesha hit two threes when they were doing that."
Lee's first two baskets were three-pointers in the first quarter and she added 14 points in the rest of the game.
"I was happy to see her do well because she opened the year right behind Courtney in scoring, but then she disappeared," Greer said. "And she has come to the gym and shot extra the past couple weeks and it has paid off for her."
The score was tied at 12-12 after the first quarter, but the Lady Devils (9-15, 2-4 AHSAA Class 4A, Region 1, Area 1) began running away with the game in the second quarter. At halftime they led 32-21 and never looked back, leading 48-29 after three quarters and 59-40 when it was all said and done.
Greer said he was happy with the team effort.
"We have been playing well as a team, but we just haven't been able to pull out wins," Greer said. "And this win gives us confidence heading into the area tournament. It is hard to explain how a team can lose eight in a row and the coach is happy, but we have been improving this whole season and that is great."
Lee added six assists and two rebounds to her 20 points. Senior Anushk'a Banks had 9 points, four rebounds and one blocked shot. Junior Tiarra Ankum also had 9 points. English and sophomore Jodeci Craft added 6 points apiece. English added six rebounds, four assists and three blocks. Craft had two assists and one rebound.
Senior Megan Hartley scored 3 points and had four rebounds, three assists and one steal. Junior Cassie Johnson, sophomore Canausha Crenshaw and freshman Tiffany Madison each had 2 points. Crenshaw added seven rebounds and three assists. Senior Taneika Crimbley added three assists, three rebounds and two steals.
The Lady Devils will enter the Area 1 tournament as the No. 3 seed and they will face the No. 2 seeded Jackson Lady Aggies in the first round Feb. 7 in Thomasville.