Friday, January 09, 2009

SPORTS>>Turnovers costly as Lady Devils fall to Parkview

By KELLY FENTON
Leader sports editor

The Jacksonville girls fell behind by as many as 23 points in the final period but never quit in a 51-44 loss to Little Rock Parkview on Tuesday night at the Devils’ Den.

“We knew they were one of the best teams in the conference coming in,” said Lady Red Devil head coach Katrina Mimms. “But you’re notgoing to just come in here and take something. You’re going to have to earn it. Our whole thought process is, don’t give it to them, make them earn it.”

Though Jacksonville’s 17-1 surge to close out the game came against the Lady Patriot subs, Mimms was happy with the way the Lady Red Devils finished.

“Two weeks ago, that might have been a mercy rule game,” she said. “We’re getting better. We just played the best team in the conference. Nobody is more athletic than them.”

That athleticism dealt Jackson-ville fits on the offensive end, where the Lady Devils committed 31 turnovers. Though Jacksonville finished with an 8-rebound advantage, those turnovers resulted in 13 fewer field goal attempts for the Lady Red Devils. Jacksonville, which got 19 points, seven rebounds and seven steals from Tyra Terry, made 19 of 39 shots, but hit only 4 of 9 free throws.

“Tyra had a fantastic game,” said Mimms, whose team fell to 6-7 overall. “That was probably one of the best games she played overall with steals and assists and rebounds. She played a really solid game.”

Jacksonville hung with the Lady Pats early after falling into an 8-0 hole. Post player Jessica Lanier not only couldn’t get off any shots in the first half, she couldn’t get her hands on the ball.

“We were ready for a man-to-man,” Mimms said. “What they played was more of a match-up (zone). It took us a little bit of time because that’s the first time we’ve seen a match-up.”

A three-pointer and a baseline drive by Terry and two baskets by Lanier in the second period had Jacksonville hanging tough at 20-13 at intermission. And Terry’s two baskets and a free throw to open the third period narrowed the margin to 20-18.

But Parkview turned up the defensive heat, scoring 14 of the next 16 points to reassert control. Jacksonville got as close as nine on a steal, lay-up and free throw by Terry, but Parkview’s 14-0 run put the game out of reach.

Lanier finished with eight points and seven rebounds, but no other Lady Devil scored more than four points. Apollonia Sims grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.

Jacksonville tried to rebound when it hosted Little Rock Hall in a game played last night after Leader deadlines. Mimms was already declaring the game against the struggling Lady Warriors a must-win.

“Those are the games we have to have if we’re going to make the playoffs,” she said.