The Simmons High Devilettes secured their first playoff victory Monday night at home in a 40-28 win over the Richton Rebels.
Reeling positively from a gut wrenching 56-52 loss in overtime to the Shaw Lady Hawks in Rosedale for the District 1A championship, the Devilettes (23-4) shook off the defeat and focused on the road ahead.
Simmons Head Coach Bernita Alexander said the biggest difference between the Devilettes’ play Friday night and Monday night was control.
“We were asking them to do those things Friday night and they just couldn’t bring it together…we should’ve won that game, but we just didn’t manage the game properly,” Alexander reflected.
Alexander added, “Last night, we did a better job managing the game and being in control of the game. That was the difference.”
Sophomore point guard Taylor Lucas-Howard led the Devilettes in scoring with 15 points on the night.
Senior Nicole Maybell added great defensive play down the stretch and finished with eight points.
Na’Riah Robinson, a junior forward, finished with six points Monday after scoring 14 Friday night against Shaw. She has contributed tremendously on both defensive and offensive sides of the ball for the Devilettes.
“Na’Riah is a blue-collar player. She is going to do all those little things we’re asking her to do like controlling those boards,” Coach Alexander said.
Alexander also said as of late, Robinson has gained confidence in her shot and her teammates are able to go to her when they need to because she’s realizing her athletic ability to get to the basket
Lucas-Howard is missing fellow guard and sophomore Carl’Kaisha Lucas who is out with an injury, but Alexander said on Monday night, Lucas-Howard showed her growth and her ability to facilitate.
Simmons will travel to Walnut Grove on Friday to face off against Leake County Gators.
