By JASON KING
Leader sportswriter
Senior guard Tyra Terry was like a one-woman wrecking crew on Monday night.
The Jacksonville Lady Red Devils got their first on-court win of the season 68-38 against the host Mills Lady Comets at the Galaxy during the first round of the Mills Invitational.
Terry led the Lady Devils (2-1) in every stat except for blocks, which went to junior post Jessica Lanier with three. Terry turned in a double-double performance, with 16 points, 12 rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks.
Mills (0-3) rallied from a 30-12 deficit late in the first half to trail 33-21 at the half before Terry’s three-point basket to start the third quarter set the tone for a dominant second half for Jacksonville.
“It was good to get that first win on the court,” said Lady Red Devils coach Katrina Mimms. “I thought we improved on some of the things we struggled with in our opener, and we executed better with our quick-hitter plays.”
The biggest difference for Jacksonville came at the charity stripe. After watching a chance to win their opener against Benton slip away due to poor free throw shooting, the Lady Devils turned it around against Mills with a 15-of-26 performance at the line, including 3 of 4 for Appolonia Sims to make up part of her 13 points.
“Free throws were the difference in the game (against Benton),” Mimms said. “We worked on it a little in practice. What we did seemed to work for us. We saw some good things tonight.”
The mercy-rule didn’t occur until the final minute when softball star sub Jennifer Bock set the final margin off an assist from Lanier, although the Lady Red Devils were up 49-26 at the 2:37 mark of the third quarter when Mimms called off the dogs.
The second-team, led by Ebony Ghoshon’s seven points and three rebounds, held the Lady Comets in check until they went on a 6-2 run midway through the final period.
Sherice Randell had a solid night across the board with nine points, eight rebounds and two assists.
Terry got off to a quick start for Jacksonville when she took the opening tip for a score, and set up her teammates with some good assists, including a pair of back door passes. The first was to a wide-open Sims at the 7:13 mark of the second quarter for a 22-12 Lady Red Devil lead, and her second to Ghoshon in the final seconds of the first half.
“That’s what we wanted her to do. That’s what we need her to do every night,” Mimms said. “She’s our leader – that’s what she’s supposed to do. The more she does that and realizes that she can do it, the better off we’re going to be.”
Lanier added six points, four rebounds and three blocked shots. Tyquia Robinson had five points. Brittany Smith had two points and three rebounds and Chyna Davis had two points and a steal.
For Mills, Jasmine Perkins led the way with 15 points, nine of which came on three pointers.
Next up for the Lady Red Devils will be Marion, a 63-36 first-round winner over Monticello in today’s second round. Mills will host the Lady Billies in the consolation bracket.
