By DAN HOEHNE
daniel.hoehne@newssun.com
AVON PARK - "I'm glad we had the big lead," an exasperated and relieved Mike Lee said Thursday night, after his Lady Blue Streaks held off a furious second-half rally for a 51-43 win at Avon Park.
"This was the first time in quite a few years that an Avon Park team came at us and we didn't fold," Lee added. "It feels good to have the rivalry back."
Actually, it was Sebring that was coming at the Lady Devils early on, utilizing their quick, long-armed defenders to cut off passing lanes, disrupt dishes and control the boards.
Shalontay Rose got the scoring started with a put-back, before Allie Mann hit a short jumper.
Rose then split a pair at the line and Mann drained a jumper from the baseline and the Streaks were out to a 7-0 lead.
Otisha Smith converted on a follow to break the game-opening run, but that opportunistic defense lead to consecutive breakaways by Rhondaja Williams and a fast break score by Christacia Dawkins to make it 13-2.
Johntavia Perry would find her way through the lane on a drive, but Rose ended the period with a jumper from the foul line for a 15-4 lead.
The home crowd might have expected this formidable Avon Park bunch to respond, as did their coach, Paulette Daley.
"It's our home court, in front of a good crowd and it's against Sebring," she said. "I thought we'd have come out with more fire."
Then again, the Blue Streaks were playing a part in dousing any fire that was there, as Mann started the second quarter with a three to continue the momentum.
Jamiese Wiley got a score on another fast break and Rose drove in from the left to balloon the lead to 22-4.
Perry halted the run with one-of-two at the line, but Rose had another follow and Mann scored on a break and it was now 26-5.
Perry connected on two at the line and then the Devils got a gift on an inadvertent whistle.
With Sebring in possession, some aggressive defense knocked the ball loose and back across midcourt, where Avon Park's Connie Dewberry and Mann were giving chase.
A whistle halted the action, with the call being over and back, which was incorrect.
After a brief consultation between the officials, the call was wiped off and the Devils rewarded with a basket.
But this didn't cause any momentum shift as Alexxis Harris answered right back with two free throws.
Perry would connect on a free throw of her own, but Williams hit two for the Streaks and Jazmin House banked one in from the free-throw line extended to send the game to halftime with Sebring up 32-10.
"We talked about it at halftime, about getting more aggressive and getting after them," Daley said.
Which Lee also discussed with his charges.
"It's Avon Park, so we knew they were going to step up and get their runs in," he said.
Though it didn't quite take early on as Sebring answered three early points with three of their own.
Toryana Jones then scored on a break as the Devil defense started to pick it up, but Rose answered with a follow to maintain the lead at 37-15.
But then the expected run came as Avon Park really upped the pressure, leading to steals and turnovers and ensuing fast breaks for an 8-0 burst that shaved the lead to 37-22.
Rose upped it again with a put-back, but another four points cut it to 39-28 headed to the final eight minutes.
The lead held early in the fourth, though Sebring wasn't exactly helping themselves at the charity stripe.
While the Devils were getting their points two at a time, the Streaks had six trips to the line where they split their attempts.
Perry, however, hit two freebies and Jones drove for two.
Perry then hit a jumper and Jones got a steal and score to cut it to seven at 45-38.
House got free inside for a bucket, but Dewberry followed with a three to make it 47-41 with 2:43 left.
But the back breaker came with Williams answered that with a steal and drive.
Dewberry would hit a long two, but with time running out, the Sebring defense stepped it up and didn't allow another Red Devils score, with Mann putting the final nail in the coffin with a jumper from the wing.
"That was such a big basket by Allie there," Lee said. "I'm just real glad with how we played. We knew they'd come back, and they did, but we kept our composure for the most part and got the win. It feels good."
For Avon Park, the loss was a tough one, as those to a county rival can be.
But within it there were lessons learned.
"This showed the girls that you have to come out 100-percent, that you can't wait until you're in too big of a hole to pick it up," Daley said. "They came out in the second half and played the way we can, which is something we can build off of."
Jones and Perry shared scoring honors for the Devils, with 12 apiece, with Mann chipping in 14 for Sebring.
Though it was Rose with the big night, scoring a game-high 16, along with 12 rebounds, five blocked shots and four steals.
Williams also was in double figures for the Streaks with 10.
Avon Park is back at it Tuesday in a girl-boy doubleheader, as they face Lake Region at 6 p.m., with the boys facing the Thunder at 7:30 p.m.
Sebring returns to action Tuesday, Nov. 27, after the Thanksgiving break, with a road date at Hardee.
Sunday, November 18, 2012 - www.newssun.com/SUN-11-18-12-APSebGBB