By By Matthew Nascone
Courtney English grabbed the rebound and put the game-winning basket in the hoop Feb. 7 against Jackson in the Class 4A, Area 1 Tournament in Thomasville, but it was about one second too late.
The Escambia County Lady Devils trailed 52-51 with less than 10 seconds to go in the game. The last shot of the game rimmed out of the basket and the buzzer sounded right before English released the scoop and score shot off the miss, ending the Lady Devils season.
Sophomore Canausha Crenshaw converted a layup to cut the Lady Aggies’ lead to 52-51 with 14.6 seconds left in the game and the Lady Devils (9-16) had the full court press set up perfectly and tipped the ball, but it went out of bounds. The Lady Aggies inbounded the ball and ECHS fouled. The free throw was missed and ECHS got the rebound.
The final shot was taken and it rimmed out.
Greer said the way the girls played out there was great and he was so proud of them.
Greer said he knows how painful leg cramps can be.
The Lady Devils opened up a 10-7 lead by the end of the first quarter and pushed that lead to 25-19 by halftime, but Jackson went on an 22-16 run in the third quarter to grab a 37-35 lead when the fourth quarter began.
Greer chalked this loss up to inexperience.
Lee led the Lady Devils with 13 points, one rebound and one steal. English had 11 points, 10 rebounds, two blocked shots and two assists. Crenshaw contributed nine points, 11 rebounds and one assist.
Senior Megan Hartley and junior Tiarra Ankum each had seven points. Hartley added four rebounds, one assist and one steal. Ankum had one rebound. Sophomore Jodeci Craft had four points, two rebounds and one assist.