Atmore erases deficit, tops Wolves 94-88

Trailing 76-67 early in the fourth period, Escambia County went on a 17-0 run and beat Vigor 94-88 in area action earlier tonight.

From the start of the contest until the end, it was back and forth, back and forth. When the Blue Devils scored, the Wolves scored.

For much of the game, ECHS had no answer for VHS.

However, Anthony Fountain got in a put back dunk to start the massive run in the fourth to help propel his team forward.

Fountain, who led ECHS with 23 points, got in an old-fashioned 3-point play to cut it to two at 76-74 with 4:55 to play.

Devon Robinson then got a steel and attacked the basket to tie the game at 76-all.

Defensively, the Blue Devils forced turnovers at the half court during the run, which translated into fast break points.

Fountain got another rebound and putback and Chille Ford drained a pair of free shots for a 80-76 advantage and lead the Blue Devils would never give up.

Fountain got up on a nice pass from Eric Williams down low a hot minute later.

The run ended when Vigor’s Leon Riley passed to Tyree Taylor for an easy bucket.

Williams brought the margin to 10 points with a pair, and ECHS held out in the end.

“We needed that one right there,” ECHS coach Bruce Craig said. “It was a big area game. I knew it was going to be a hostile show.”

Hostile it was as both crowds were in a frenzy from the start of the game.

There were times where VHS players tried to lure ECHS into dumb fouls, but the Blue Devils held their ground, Craig said.

“Just like I told my kids, ‘keep your composure, and don’t keep falling into their trash talking,” he said.

Vigor’s Marques Rhymes made a significant impact for the Wolves by using his quickness and accurate shooting to finish with 16 points for the night.

By the end of the third period, the Wolves created themselves a 69-62 advantage.

In the first half, the Blue Devils lost a 39-31 lead as the Wolves tied it at 44-44 after Rhymes made the front-end of a pair late.

ECHS led 25-20 at the end of the first period.

Robinson chipped in with 16 points; Devonte Lee and Ford had 11 points apiece; Malik Brown and Triston Knott had eight points each; and Williams had 16.

Other than Rhymes, Terrance Henderson and Riley had 20 points each.

In girls action, the Lady Blue Devils fell 59-18.

ECHS improves to 12-3 overall, and 2-0 in Class 5A, Area 2 action.

The Blue Devils host Hillcrest-Evergreen Saturday night.

In other local action, Escambia Academy beat Jackson Academy 77-58.

Tyler Sells led EA with 21 points. Fred Flavors had 12 points. Ben Martin scored 10 points and Trae Lee chipped in nine.