The Escambia County High School Lady Blue Devils lost to Williamson, 50-46, in overtime, in the team’s home opener Friday.

The girls came out strong, scoring 11 points in the first quarter, but let the Lady Lions come back to win the hard-fought game.

Nicole Johnson led the team with 12 points, while Jaquanda Webster and Jade Adams each added eight points. Ashleigh Simpkins, Keshia Williams and NyAsia Poindexter also scored for the Lady Blue Devils.

Williamson’s top-scorer Yasmine Beasley had a game-high 28 points on 9-of-20 shooting. The Lady Lions next best scorer was Kiara Inge with nine points.

The Lady Blue Devils led 17-16 at halftime, but trailed 29-22 after the third.

Williamson took a 10-point lead on a three-pointer at the start of the fourth quarter. This was followed by consecutive trips to the foul line for ECHS’ Johnson, who hit three of six free throws to cut the Lady Lions’ lead to 32-29 with 5:15 left in the quarter.

Webster was then sent to the line on the Lady Blue Devils’ next possession. She sank both free throws to bring ECHS within one point to cap a 9-0 run.

Adams hit both free throws for ECHS on the next trip down the floor to maintain the one-point deficit at 33-32. Adams hit a three-pointer on the ensuing ECHS possession and put the Lady Blue Devils on top, 36-34, with 3:23 left in the quarter.

Beasley tied the game up for Williamson with two free throws at the 2:20 mark, before Webster answered with two free throws of her own after being fouled while driving to the hoop. ECHS had a 38-36 lead with 1:51 left.

ECHS took a four-point lead the next time down the court with a lay up from Johnson. The Lady Lions answered on the other end, before an ECHS pass went out of bounds and Williamson was allowed to tie the game up at the end of regulation.

The Lady Lions took a 42-40 lead at the start of overtime, but Johnson answered with a jumper at the 3:38 mark. She then made 1-of-2 free throws at the 3:13 mark to give the Lady Blue Devils the lead at 43-42.

A Williamson player hit a mid-range jumper to give the Lady Lions a one-point advantage, before ECHS’ Johnson answered again with a lay up for a 45-44 lead.

Williamson hit two free throws to regain the lead at 46-45 and then scored two more on the ensuing trip down the court for a 48-45 lead.

ECHS’ Johnson missed both free throws with 37 seconds left and Williamson took a 50-45 lead at the other end. The Lady Blue Devils’ Webster hit 1-of-2 free throws to end the game.

The result of the Lady Blue Devils’ game against Wilcox-Central Saturday and the result of their game Tuesday at Vigor were unavailable as of press time.