By By Adam Robinson – Sports Editor
The T.R. Miller Lady Tigers continued their success over county teams in the Escambia County Tournament when they defeated the W.S. Neal Lady Eagles 51-24 for the tournament championship.
T.R. Miller's only loss in the county tournament from 2001- 2007 was last year against Escambia County in the championship game.
With the win, T.R. Miller improved to 4-2 on the season and 3-0 in the tournament as W.S. Neal fell to 1-2 in the tournament and 5-6 overall.
Just like in their previous two wins in the tournament, T.R. Miller used defensive pressure early and often to take a 6-2 lead at the end of the first quarter and a 20-6 lead at the half.
After holding the 6-2 lead at the end of the first quarter, W.S. Neal quickly tied the game at 6-6 early in the second quarter with 7:15 left before the half as Freda Folmar and Breanna Hawthorne teamed up for the Eagles. But that would be all the points the Eagles could manage as T.R. Miller went on a 14-0 run to close out the half and take the 20-6 lead going into the locker rooms at the half.
W.S. Neal came out of the half and got points from Folmar and Rachel Davis to get within 10 points of the Tiger lead at 20-10 with 7:39 left in the third quarter.
T.R. Miller got those points back in the next minutes of the game as Ashley Williams and Keydra Shedrone went on a 7-0 run for the Tigers to give Miller a 27-10 lead with 5:46 left in the third as the Tigers took a 32-17 lead at the end of the third.
After only outscoring the Eagles by one point in the third quarter, T.R. Miller put up 19 points in the fourth quarter and held the Lady Eagles to seven to take the 51-24 win.
Freda Folmar led all scorers and W.S. Neal in the game as she finished with 14 points as Leah Brundidge led the Lady Tigers with 10 points.
T.R. Miller will host Monroeville Friday, as W.S. Neal will travel to Pleasant Home.