Lady Tigers surge past Akron in second half

Demopolis stunted Akron’s transition game over the final 16 minutes of play Friday to pound its way to a 61-43 win.

The Lady Tigers trailed 12-10 after the game’s opening period and fell to a 24-21 halftime deficit as Akron’s Deavandra Lyles hung 20 points on the board in the first 16 minutes of play.

“They were really looking to push the basketball, catch us in transition and get easy baskets,” Demopolis coach Tony Pittman said of a first half sprint that kept Akron ahead of the Lady Tigers before DHS’s locker room adjustments took effect. “We were able to send the guards at them to slow them down, make them walk the ball up the floor and turn it into a half court game and keep them off the offensive board. We were able to take control of the ball game.”

As Demopolis slowed the game down, the combination of Caleb Washington and Ivery Moore began to take over.

The 6-1 Washington took command of the low post while Moore did her damage collapsing and crashing from the high post. The pair combined for 40 of the Lady Tigers’ 21 points.

While Moore started the game, Washington came off the bench late in the first quarter.

“It gives her an opportunity to see what the defense is doing,” Pittman said of the junior center that played a reserve role Friday night. “She has a mindset of attacking and how to attack from her position when she comes into the ball game.”

Washington’s attack mindset led her to 24 points, 14 rebounds, five blocks and two steals in the game.

Moore finished the night with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

“She is very aggressive going to the basket,” Pittman said. “She got a little confidence going, they were not able to stop her and she was able to stay with it. I was glad to see that tonight.”

Lyles led all scorers with 30 points to go along with nine steals and four rebounds. Shaquanna James added nine rebounds and four steals in the Akron effort.

The win moves the young Lady Tiger team to 8-6 on the year as they ready for the nine games that remain on the regular season slate.

“This basketball team is going to play hard no matter what. We’ve just got to be able to play when things are not going as well. Once we get over that hump, this is going to be a very good basketball team,” Pittman said. “I’m very proud of my post players and my guards and the way they are playing together. I keep telling myself, this is a young basketball team. But it is like I told my kids from day one, the expectations of what we’re trying to do will not change.”

The Lady Tigers are scheduled to play again Tuesday when they travel to Greenville.