By By SCOTT COOPER – Sports Writer
In their three latest outings, the W.S. Neal Lady Eagles thoroughly demolished J.U. Blacksher before suffering lopsided losses to Hillcrest and Pensacola Catholic.
With two games remaining on the regular-season schedule, the Lady Eagles are 3-15 on the season.
Lady Eagles 40,
J.U. Blacksher 9
In a Jan. 23 game played at home, the Lady Eagles scored early and often in a 40-9 victory over J.U. Blacksher.
The Lady Eagles used their speed and quickness to dictate play in the first period. Scoring baskets in droves, Neal ended the quarter on the top end of an 18-4 score.
Continuing their domination in the second stanza, the Lady Eagles padded the cushion to 26-5 at the half.
The 21-point halftime lead was stretched to 28 points, 35-7, at the conclusion of the third quarter. From there, the Lady Eagles coasted to an impressive 31-point win.
Lilly Fantroy led the Lady Eagles offense with 10 points.
Hillcrest 51, Lady Eagles 26
The Lady Eagles suffered a disastrous first quarter and never recovered in a Jan. 24 loss to the Hillcrest Lady Jaguars.
The home-standing Lady Jaguars, ranked No. 6 in Class 4A with a 16-6 record, pretty much had their way in the first half. Leading 19-0 at the end of the first period, Hillcrest maintained the 19-point advantage at the halftime break, 28-9.
An 18-7 run in the third quarter placed the Lady Jaguars at an overwhelming advantage, 46-16. Although the Lady Eagles battled back in the final period, Hillcrest exited the game in possession of a 25-point win.
Candi Williams scored six points to lead the Lady Eagle offense.
Pensacola Catholic 63, Lady Eagles 18
When they hosted the Lady Eagles on Jan. 28, the Pensacola Catholic Lady Crusaders showed why they are a perennial top 10 team in the state of Florida.
The Lady Crusaders burst out of the starting gate and held an overwhelming 20-3 lead at the end of the first stanza before entering intermission up by 31 points, 38-7.
The Lady Eagles fought to hold down the score in the second half, but the Lady Crusaders never slowed their pace over the final two quarters in a 63-18 win.
Candi Williams, Ashley Bailey and Rhonda Bradley each scored four points to lead the Lady Eagles' offensive efforts.