By JOSH FRYE
News Sportswriter
Daughtry McGhee and Landon Sims helped lead Escambia Academy’s Cougars to their first win of the season last Friday, December 18, a 61-36 rout of Edgewood Academy.
“It was good to get our first victory,” EA head coach Willie White said. “The boys played really hard, but we still have areas that we need to work on. This is a process, and we are in the midst of working to improve as a team. The process is far from complete, but I feel that we will continue to get better with each game.”
EA took an early 15-4 lead over the Wildcats and kept the momentum alive throughout the game.
McGhee led the Cougars with 18 points, five rebounds, two assists and four steals.
Sims complemented McGhee with 17 points, seven rebounds, an assist, three steals and two blocked shots.
Bubba Nettles contributed 11 points, pulled down five rebounds, handed out six assists, came up with six steals and blocked two shots. T.J. Riley scored nine points and added a rebound and an assist.
Caleb Davis, Jacob Lee and Hunter Smith added two points and two rebounds each.
The Cougars improved to 1-3 on the season as COVID-19 continues to play havoc with the schedule.
According to White, the Cougars had to postpone last Saturday’s (December 19) contest against Fort Dale due to concerns.
“This is not an ordinary season,” he said. “A number of players have been down in a different number of schools. And due to football at the start of the season, we only had two or three practices together before we had to play our first game.”
According to White, things are continually improving for the Cougars as they are getting used to his coaching style.
“I like everything mapped out,” White said. “I do things a certain way and have been able to be successful with the way things are run. It is a process the players will eventually get used to. If they do what I ask and work hard, success will come.”
Dribbling has proven to be a major area on which White has been concentrating over the past two weeks.
“The guys are dribbling too much,” White said. “We need to break the habit of over-dribbling and concentrate on moving, passing and gaining points.”
The Cougars next game will come after the New Year when they host Wilcox Academy on Tuesday, January 12.