By TODD TRAUB
Leader sports editor
Leader sports editor
The second quarter was pretty much the last Tuesday night.
The Jacksonville Lady Red Devils beat the North Pulaski Lady Falcons 62-13 at Jacksonville’s Devil’s Den thanks to a second-quarter eruption in which they outscored North Pulaski 28-2.
“I guess overall it looks like it was a complete performance,” Jacksonville coach Katrina Mimms said. “I don’t ever think anything is complete. We’ve got room to work. We’ll make some corrections and go through some things that we didn’t do right.”
It started innocently enough, with North Pulaski within 10-6 at the end of the first quarter. Then Jacksonville’s sophomore post player Coyja Hood scored from the inside to start a 26-0 run, and by halftime North Pulaski was looking at a 40-8 deficit.
“I guess the weak spot was we didn’t get going,” Mimms said. “It took us about two minutes before either team even scored. And then once we got going we kind of got some momentum.”
North Pulaski’s only points of the second quarter came on free throws after Hood fouled Erica Beck with 53.8 seconds left. Chyna Davis then closed out the scoring with free throws for Jacksonville.
Jacksonville outscored North Pulaski 12-4 in the third quarter to keep the clock running throughout the fourth under the high school sportsmanship/timing rule, and the Lady Devils outscored the Lady Falcons 8-1 in the shortened final period.
Mimms and the Lady Red Devils uncorked their fullcourt pressure in the big second quarter, forcing 16 turnovers with 12 leading to points.
“We went to a 1-3-1 defense, I thought they did a good job,” Mimms said. “It was the first time they played it so we saw some really good things out of certain people in certain areas. So we liked that part.”
Mimms said Jacksonville also went to a man-to-man press at times in the second quarter, just to get it on film for further study.
“Went to a man press, more of a run and jump,” Mimms said. “That hurt them because we could match up.”
It was too much for youthful North Pulaski, with no returning starters, no seniors and few players taller than 5-6.
But, whether North Pulaski is struggling or on top of its game, it’s nice to beat the crosstown rival, Mimms said.
“It’s always good,” Mimms said. “You know by the time your game is over it’s going to be a packed house. You want to play in front of people and you never want to get beat by your crosstown rivals.”
Eight different players scored during Jacksonville’s decisive second quarter.
Sophomore Jessica Jackson went the length of the court for a layup to make it 14-6, Davis made a basket followed by Tiffany Smith a three-pointer that gave the Lady Devils a 19-6 lead.
