By By SCOTT COOPER – Sports Writer
The Escambia County Tournament held Dec. 12-14 at Miller Gym was both disappointing and frustrating for the W.S. Neal Lady Eagles.
The Lady Eagles lost a heartbreaker to Escambia County in the opening round before losing to Miller in the second round. In the third-round consolation game, another close defeat at the hands of Flomaton ended the Lady Eagles' tournament without a win and dropped their season record to 1-8.
Escambia County 37, Lady Eagles 36
A Dec. 12 first-round loss to the Escambia County Lady Devils was one the Lady Eagles would like to have back.
The two teams settled into a seesaw battle in the opening quarter that continued until the final horn sounded. The Lady Devils led 10-6 at the end of the first period, but Neal came right back to claim a 17-16 lead at halftime.
The second half continued to be contested in much the same manner. But, the Lady Eagles were up, 36-35, with 1.6 seconds remaining in the game when an Escambia County steal and putback of a Neal inbounds pass allowed the Lady Devils to snatch a one-point win from what looked like a sure Lady Eagles' victory.
Lilly Fantroy scored 10 points to pace the Lady Eagles.
Miller 58, Lady Eagles 20
After experiencing the heartbreaking loss in the opening round, the Lady Eagles were forced to face the high-flying Lady Tigers of T.R. Miller in the Dec. 13 second round.
Miller's play proved to be too much to handle, as the Lady Tigers built a 40-8 halftime lead before coasting to a 38-point victory.
Flomaton 47, Lady Eagles 40
The tournament's Dec. 14 consolation game between the Lady Eagles and the Flomaton Lady Hurricanes was one that could have gone either way.
Flomaton led 10-8 at the end of the first period, and then padded the cushion to ten, 27-17, at the half.
After the Lady Hurricanes stretched their advantage to 39-27 at the end of three, the Lady Eagles staged a determined fourth-quarter rally that gave them a chance to overtake the lead. But, the Lady Hurricanes were able to hold off the challenge and ended the game with a seven-point win.
Shekinah Adams scored 10 points to lead the Lady Eagles' offensive efforts.