HOLLANDALE — Playing host in the first round of the Class 1A playoffs, the Simmons High School Devilettes (16-2, 8-0) handily secured a 73-13 victory over the Mount Olive Pirates.
The Devilettes were coming off of a devastating 61-42 loss to McEvans in Friday night’s Class 1A Region 5 district tournament final in Shaw where they were without their star point forward, sophomore Akiah Prince.
Prince’s absence was more than apparent, but her presence was heavily felt Monday night as she helped lead the Devilettes to a convincing win with 22 points, 14 rebounds and seven blocked shots — a “bounce back” performance as head coach Bernita Alexander described.
Senior Taliyah Edwards at center finished with 10 points, three blocked shots and three rebounds.
Senior point guard Jamira Scott contributed 12 points with junior forward Aaliyah Esco adding 10 points, five assists and four steals.
Freshman Moesha Hopkins finished with 12 points and three steals.
Coach Alexander’s focus has been mostly on making sure her team gathers themselves as a unit.
“We’ve been having a little adversity — Akiah didn’t play Friday night and that kind of hurt us. I didn’t think it would, but it kind of showed itself and we’rejust working on gelling together as a unit moving forward.”
With her team being exceedingly more talented than many of their opponents throughout the season, Alexander is also working to counter complacency by reiterating the importance of doing “the little things.”
“I talked to them about the little things like showing up for practices on time or being at school time or anything that will throw you off task where you’re not focusing on what we’re doing with the team. And, just making sure they understand this is a new season and everybody is in it for the same thing and you can’t take for granted that a team is just going to allow you to win a game,” Alexander shared. “Any given night, heart and hustle is going to beat that talent.” That’s what happened Friday night. You may have had the best talent out on the floor, but if you don’t have the heart, the hustle and the commitment, you’re going to get beat. So the focus just needs to be on wanting to play.”
She said further, “It’s more of a mental game now.”
And, oftentimes, the mental game is even tougher to conquer on the road.
The Devilettes will face Lumberton on the road Friday.
“It seems like deja vu from last year — we put ourselves in this particular situation where we’re having to go on the road. They understand the core of that team, that whole starting lineup, was there last year. We went on the road to Bay Springs and we let it slip away from us so, I hope they take that knowledge and that experience into the preparation for this game and just go out and just play hard,” Alexander added.
