Walker Memorial Downs All Saints

By DICK SCANLON

LEDGER CORRESPONDENT

 

LAKE WALES | Undefeated Walker Memorial, of Avon Park, came out with more pressure than All Saints' Academy could handle in the second half Saturday night, and the Eagles went on to a 55-40 victory in the Class 2A-District 7 championship game at Vanguard School.

Kristelle Lagabon came back from an ankle injury in the game's first minute to lead the Eagles (19-0) with 16 points.

All Saints, a team of mostly freshmen and sophomores, will advance in regional play as the district runners-up after losing for the third time to Walker.

Melanie Nix led the Saints (8-6) with 15 points and 17 rebounds. Kaylaina Young had 13 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out with 1:49 left in the third quarter.

The game was slipping away at that time because the Saints couldn't get the ball up the court. Facing Walker's full-court pressure, they turned the ball over 15 times in the third quarter and 25 times in the second half.

"It's too bad we had all the fouls and turnovers," All Saints' coach Adam Burke said. "I really thought we had a good chance to win the game."

After falling behind by 11 points in the first quarter, the Saints came back with 11 straight points to tie it, 15-15, on a jump shot by Young.

Walker's lead was only 23-21 early in the second half, but the turnovers started to mount and the Eagles pulled away.