With and Without Coach, Winter Haven Romps

Thu. February 16, 2012 at 11:19 p.m. | By Polk Preps Staff

Class 6A, Region 3

BY LISA COFFEY

THE LEDGER

WINTER HAVEN | With their coach missing from the bench during the first quarter, the Winter Haven Blue Devils made it a point to beat the New Port Richey Mitchell Mustangs Thursday in the Class 6A, Region quarterfinals.

They finished their effort with an exclamation point in a 71-29 victory over a injury-riddled Mitchell team at Jack Deedrick Gymnasium.

The Blue Devils (19-7) host Land O'Lakes in the next round.

It's expected that coach Tyrone Woodside will be on the bench for the entire Land O'Lakes game.

"It's resolved," said athletic director Steve Beasley, who said that Woodside's absence was an internal issue. The principal (Gina Williams) and I made the decision."

"I have no comment," Woodside said. "The kids come first."

The kids put the coach first.

"They really wanted to win," assistant Jamie Phillips said. "We had a good season. They felt it was something trying to mess it up. They said they would just play to keep it going. I think it put a little more fire in them."

The Mustangs (20-8) were missing two starters in the contest due to discipline and an impending kidney surgery among a myriad of injuries.

Winter Haven played all out with a running clock that began with a dunk by DeVon Walker with approximately five minutes left in the third period.

Walker finished with a game-high 21 points and 10 rebounds.

With two starting freshmen, the contest offered a chance for everyone to play.

MITCHELL (29) - Freddie Jones 2, Lawrence Watt 2, Jordan Dong 14, Cobi Johnson 1, Anthony Pack 3, Jake Driscoll 3, Derek Boyle 4. Totals; 6 3 8-11 29.

WINTER HAVEN (71) - Lamont Jasper 3, Jerry Hendrix 8, J.T. Hawkins 6, D.J. Jordan 4, Chance McSpadden 9, Kendrick Holland 6, Vivian Morris 6, Glynnis Haynes 4, DeVon Walker 21, Darius James 4. TOTALS: 27 2 10-19 71.

Mitchell 10 7 5 7 - 20

Winter Haven 16 25 19 11 - 71

3-point field goals: Mitchell 3 (Dong 2, Driscoll 1). Winter Haven 2 (Walker 1, McSpadden 10). Records: Mitchell 20-8. Winter Haven 19-7.