Lady Devils can’t contain Lady Raiders

Lady Devils can’t contain Lady Raiders

Nettleton girls top West Memphis

By Billy Woods

WM School District It’s become a learning season for the West Memphis Lady Devils.

At least that’s how interim head coach Sonja Tate sees it.

Plagued by 21 turnovers, including 17 in the first half, the Lady Devils fell to Nettleton 60-43 Friday night at Lehr Arena.

As part of a triple-header that concluded with Memphis East and Rancho Christian (Calif.) Academy playing in front of ESPN2 cameras, the Lady Devils had trouble getting started against Nettleton (14-1 overall, 3-0 in the 5A-East Conference).

“Right now we’re just taking it one day at a time,” Tate explained. “We’re just growing as a team.

It’s been frustrating for the players who’ve been here and started for a while, but that’s really not too many.”

The loss drops West Memphis to 8-5 and 1-2.

Nettleton jetted out to a 19-6 lead by the early moments of the second quarter and the lead reached 46-26 by the 1:32 mark of the third quarter. That signaled the best stretch of ball the Lady Devils played all night.

They went on an 11-2 run and sliced the Lady Raider lead to 48-37.

But Nettleton’s Mya Love, who combined with teammate Elauna Eaton for 37 points, quelled the West Memphis momentum by hitting a free throw that triggered a 10-3 run that put the game out of reach for the hosts.

“I was proud of the way we scrapped,” Tate added.

“They could have folded their tents, but they competed and they did some of the things I’ve asked them to do in practices.”

West Memphis got 15 points from junior point guard Aryah Hazley while sophomore Ta’Nya Burnett continued her impressive play with 13 points. Senior Kenya Freeman had an additional 9 points for the Lady Devils.

Nettleton, one of the favorites for the 5A state championship this season after adding Jonesboro transfer Eaton, got hit just 18 of 33 free throws.

But Eaton led all scorers, normally spotting up in the corner where she buried three 3-pointers. She had 22 points.

Love scored 15 and Dasia Young added 9.

The Lady Devils will play again at Jonesboro on Tuesday night.

West Memphis’ Aniaya Dean (11) drives for two points against Nettleton.