By By Adam Robinson- Sports Editor
After suffering an early defeat at the hands of the Pensacola High School Lady Tigers, the T.R. Miller Lady Tigers picked up their first win of the young 2008-2009 season Friday night at home when they defeated the Escambia County High School Lady Blue Devils 50-38.
T.R. Miller outscored the Lady Blue Devils 15-9 in the first quarter and 12-10 in the second quarter to claim an eight-point lead at the half, 27-19.
In the second half, the Lady Tigers held a 9-8 lead in the third quarter to take a 36-27 lead into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, T.R. Miller outscored Escambia County 14-11 to claim the 12-point win, 50-38.
Kesha Peterson led T.R. Miller with 19 points in the win and was joined in double figures by Nakiya Smith in the win.
Catherine Green had six points in the win followed by four from Keydra Shedrone, two from Ashley Williams and Zykeya Barton and one from Janel McCorvey.
Friday night's game was close the whole night except for the two times the Lady Tigers held a 12-point lead, three if you count the final score as a 12-point win.
Smith gave the Lady Tigers an early 2-0 lead when she connected for a two-pointer with 6:52 left in the first quarter.
After a Blue Devil basket tied the game at 2-2 with 6:37 left in the first quarter, Kesha Peterson put the Lady Tigers up 5-2 when she connected for a 3-pointer with 6:20 left in the first quarter.
Escambia quickly cut the lead to 5-4 and tied the game at 5-5 at the 5:22 mark.
From there, the Lady Tigers went ahead 7-5 and 9-5 and led 15-9 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, the Lady Tigers made a 6-0 run and they went ahead 19-9 with 6:59 left in the half.
The Lady Tigers held a 10-point lead in the quarter until the 2:17 mark when Escambia County cut the lead to six points at 21-15.
Peterson and Ashley Williams connected on consecutive baskets for the Lady Tigers to put T.R. Miller up 25-15 and Peterson added her 15th point of the night with 1:15 left in the half to put T.R. Miller up 27-15.
Escambia County closed the quarter on a 4-0 run, but T.R. Miller held a 36-27 lead at the half.
In the second half, T.R. Miller opened the quarter on a 4-0 run getting points from Keydra Shedrone and Peterson to go up 31-19 with 5:50 left in the third quarter.
After going up 32-21, Escambia County cut the lead to 32-25 with 1:55 left.
T.R. Miller outscored the Lady Blue Devils 9-8 in the quarter and led 36-27 heading into the fourth quarter.
In the fourth quarter, T.R. Miller twice built leads of 10 as they went ahead 39-29 at the 5:39 mark and 41-31 at the 4:53 mark.
Escambia County cut the Lady Tiger lead to seven twice, the latest at the 1:14 mark when they cut it to 45-38, but T.R. Miller end the game on a 5-0 run as they connected on 5-of-6 free throws to claim the win by 12, 50-38.
Pensacola High School 62, T.R. Miller 42
After having their season delayed a couple games because the T.R. Miller football team still being in the playoffs, the T.R. Miller Lady Tigers scheduled a game with Pensacola High School.
The Lady Tigers traveled to Pensacola and came back with a 62-42 loss to open the season.
The Lady Tigers fell to an opening first quarter 17-7 lead for Pensacola and an 18-11 run in the second quarter to fall by 17 points at the half at 35-18 at the half.
In the second half, the Lady Tigers played Pensacola to a 14-14 tie but still trailed by 17 as Pensacola held a 49-32 after three quarters of play.
In the fourth quarter, Pensacola outscored the Lady Tigers 13-10 to grab the 20-point win, 62-42.
Nakiya Smith led the with 15 points followed by nine points from Zykeya Barton.
Ashley Williams and Kesha Peterson added seven points in the loss and Janel McCorvey, and Keydra Shedrone added two.
T.R. Miller was set to take on the Andalusia Bulldogs on Tuesday in Andalusia and will be back in action on Friday when they travel to W.S. Neal High School.
Game time is set for 4:30 p.m. with the B teams playing each other.
The T.R. Miller Lady Tigers basketball team will not be back at home until Tuesday, Jan. 6 when they take on area opponent Bayside Academy.
The Lady Tigers will have an away game Monday, Dec. 15 at Hillcrest and will take part in the Escambia County basketball tournament Dec. 19-20.
The Lady Tigers will play in the Ft. Walton Beach Christmas tournament beginning Saturday Dec. 27 until Tuesday, Dec. 30.