Blue Devils Roll to Win

LEDGER CORRESPONDENT

WINTER HAVEN | The Winter Haven Blue Devils stepped up their pressure and used it to cruise to a Class 6A girls basketball regional quarterfinal win Tuesday night at Jack Deedrick Gymnasium.

 

The Blue Devils' defense led them to a 20-0 start on their way to a 56-17 win over New Port Richey Mitchell.

 

Winter Haven, 17-9, will now face district foe Kathleen at home Tuesday night in a regional semifinal matchup. Kathleen, the district runner-up to the Blue Devils, defeated Tarpon Springs, 43-24.

 

"I was excited about our start," Winter Haven coach Johnnie Lawson said. "We used some man-to-man (defense), with a little bit of zone. We mixed it up.

 

"We did a lot of Winter Haven stuff (Thursday night)."

 

Cynkeria Mobley scored nine of her game-high 18 points in the first quarter that saw Winter Haven hold Mitchell scoreless until 18 seconds remained in the period.

 

"(Cynkeria) does a little bit of everything for us," Lawson said. "She's a a two guard, but she can also play the four or five position for us.

 

"She's Miss Clutch for us," Lawson said.

 

The Blue Devils led 22-2 at the end of the quarter and 32-8 at the half. The Blue Devils continued to pull away in the second half with the game going to a running clock with two minutes left in the third quarter.

 

Zeneka Willix added 11 points for the Blue Devils.

 

The win was not without a negative, however. The Blue Devils, who were already without a point guard who was dismissed from the team, may have lost Destynee Arnold, who sustained a knee injury in the second quarter.

 

Lawson said he'll know on Monday whether she'll be able to play Tuesday night against Kathleen.

 

Nina Argento led Mitchell, 16-12, with nine points.