By JOSH FRYE
News Sportswriter
There is little room to breathe between football and basketball season as the Escambia County High Blue Devils kicked off the 2021-2022 with back-to-back varsity wins over Monroe County High and B.C. Rain last week.
Last Thursday (November 11), the Blue Devils kicked off basketball season with a 57-37 victory over the Monroe County Tigers. According to ECHS varsity boys’ head coach Layton Knight, the Blue Devils started out sluggish, but started the second half of the game strong defensively. “We blew the doors open during the second half,” Knight said. “The team as a whole gave a lot of effort and intensity on both sides of the ball.” Despite his players not shooting 3-pointers well and averaging only 68 percent from the free throw line, Knight was pleased with his team’s performance.
During the contest against Monroe County, Sheldon Williams led with 19 points, 12 rebounds, 3 steals and 1 block, and Stephen Williams followed with 12 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 4 blocks.
On Friday (November 12), ECHS gained the second win of the year when they defeated B.C. Rain, 72-60. According to Knight, the game was played with high intensity by the Blue Devils on both sides of the ball.
“We shot well from the three-point line,” Knight said. “Our guys played extremely hard. We are just looking to get better every day and keep the intensity going as we move forward during this season.”
Sheldon Williams again led scoring for the Blue Devils with 27 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 blocks. Conner McPhearson scored 26 points, had 6 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals. Hakeem Johnson had 15 points, 5 rebounds and 8 assists. Xavion Gee scored 3 points, had 1 rebound and 1 assist. Kaiden Arnold scored 2 points.
The Blue Devils will next face Cottage Hill Christian Academy Thursday, November 18, and will travel Friday, November 19, to face off against B.C. Rain for the second time this season.