By By Chandler Myers
Escambia County defended their county championship by adding a championship trophy to the trophy case at Escambia County High School with a second consecutive title.
The Blue Devils locked up the championship with a 63-47 victory over the W.S. Neal Eagles Monday night at Flomaton High School.
Senior guard Cedric Pierce, who was named tournament MVP, led the Blue Devils with 21 points in the victory.
In the first quarter, the Blue Devils and Eagles fought back-and-forth with Neal taking the early lead, but Escambia County fought back to end the quarter with a 25-20 lead.
In the second quarter, the Eagles outscored Escambia County by putting up 12 points and holding the Blue Devils to 11 to cut the Blue Devils halftime lead to four. At the break, ECHS led 36-32.
In the third and fourth quarters, the Blue Devils pulled away from Neal by winning the quarters 10-3 and 17-12 to pick up the tournament clinching victory 63-47.
Blue Devils senior guard Kingston Craft scored 20 points in the win.
Blue Devils forwards and All-Tournament team members Dalvin Craft and Lawrence Arnold also got in on the scoring. Craft posted nine points, while Arnold added seven of his own.