By TODD TRUAB
Leader sports editor
There is no substitute for speed.
The Jacksonville Lady Red Devils learned that the hard way as Little Rock Hall took a 57-27, mercy-ruled victory in the 6A-East Conference opener at the Devils Den.
The Lady Warriors raced to an 18-6 lead at the end of the first quarter and outscored Jacksonville 20-4 in the second to go up 38-10 at halftime.
Jacksonville’s best quarter was the third, as Hall outscored the Lady Devils 15-12, but it wasn’t enough to stave off the mercy rule in which the clock runs almost continuously in the fourth quarter after a team takes a 30-point lead.
“We tried to simulate it this week but there really wasn’t any way to simulate what they do,” Jacksonville coach Katrina Mimms said.
Mimms said the tone was set in the one-sided first quarter.
“The bottom line is we had the shots first, too, we just didn’t hit them,” Mimms said.
“They come down and score, we come back and miss a shot. You can put yourself down early.”
Hall’s speed was clear on defense too as it caught Jacksonville flat-footed.
“They were running and jumping in a halfcourt set,” Mimms said. “They’re sending a backside girl at your guard and our people weren’t moving toward the basketball.”
Tyler Scaife led Hall with 18 points. Mimms credited Scaife for being a genuine threat, but said the Lady Devils helped her out at times.
“You always have to account for No. 10 and if you don’t, she’s going to hurt you,” Mimms said. “Overall most of her shots were coming off of us making mistakes.”
Nicole Bennett was Jacksonville’s leading scorer with eight points and Jessica Jackson added six.
Jacksonville’s sophomore guard Tyronda Owens injured her ankle in the fourth quarter and Mimms wasn’t sure of the severity and would evaluate Owens day to day.
Jacksonville was off Tuesday night because of the weather-related postponement of the game with Little Rock Parkview, meaning Owens could rest her ankle and the Lady Red Devils could take in the lessons they learned Friday.
“We’ve got to get to where we’re playing full speed like they are,” Mimms said of Hall’s hustle.
“If you’re standing and they’re moving, the mover is going to get the ball. Until they decide they want to go 100 percent and all out on everything we do, then that is going to continue to happen.”
