Blue Devils drop close game to FHS, take runner-up spot
during Friday’s Escambia County Tournament game against Flomaton.
By JOSH FRYE
News Sportswriter
Escambia County High’s boys came up with a second-place finish in the 2019 Escambia County Basketball Tournament after defeating T.R. Miller 70-27 last Saturday, December 14, then falling in a close game to Flomaton.
The county tournament matched up W.S. Neal, Flomaton, T.R. Miller and ECHS.
The most exciting game during the tournament for ECHS came during last Friday night’s contest against the Hurricanes, who took top tournament honors.
Even though Flomaton defeated the Blue Devils 50-47, ECHS played a hard, grueling, action-packed game, and the Hurricanes had to dig deep to find a victory.
Allen Patterson led ECHS in scoring with 18 points during that contest. Sheldon Williams added 10 points, Trevon Lambert scored seven, Jalen Barnes added six, and Ja’Cobey James and Jacob Dirden tacked on two points each.
At the half, Flomaton had control of the game with a 26-20 lead. The excitement started during the third quarter as the Blue Devils fought back. During that period, ECHS outscored the Hurricanes 11-9.
As the final period started, the Hurricanes held a 35-31 lead, but ECHS fought back and took the lead late in the fourth.
As the final seconds ticked away, fouls and clock-killing trickery helped pave the way for a Hurricanes last-second win.
“It was an exciting game,” ECHS head coach John Shears said. “We were in a slump halfway through the game, and my message in the locker room at halftime stressed intensity. The guys took the message to heart and played a great game. They (Flomaton) just gained the upper hand and played an exciting game.”
Girls fall
In varsity girls’ action, the Lady Blue Devils dropped all three games — against Flomaton, T.R. Miller and Flomaton.
Stats and scores from Saturday’s game against T.R. Miller were not made available by the team.
In Friday night’s action against Flomaton, the Lady Devils fell 53-22.
The Hurricanes took a 15-6 lead during the first period and 31-11 at the half.
Jayla Adams led ECHS with 11 points. Makayla Lyons added three, while C’Anna Betts, Timia Gaines, and Keturah Johnson contributed two points each.
The Blue Devils and Lady Devils will host Mary G. Montgomery this Thursday, December 19.