Devils learning about new rivals

For a team that is trying to find its way through its new conference, Jacksonville seems right at home.

In their first trip to Little Rock Christian on Tuesday night, the Red Devils (9-3, 2-0 5A-Central) downed the Warriors 64-35.

“We are still trying to feel our way,” Jacksonville Coach Victor Joyner said. “This is a lot of new territory for us. We are playing teams we are not familiar with, so it is very different. We know Mills and [Little Rock] McClellan and North Pulaski, but we are having to learn some of the new teams.”

Jacksonville had little trouble adjusting to Little Rock Christian, pressuring the Warriors early and forcing turnovers.

The Red Devils led 10-0 a little more than two minutes into the game and were up 204 after the first quarter.

Jacksonville was nine of 19 from the field and have seven offensive rebounds in the decisive first quarter. Meanwhile, the Warriors (3-8, 0-2) were 1 of 7 during the quarter and had seven turnovers.

Jacksonville stayed in control, building a 38-13 lead going into the final two minutes of the first half when they had one of the lapses Joyner was concerned about.

“We did not want to give the open looks at the three, because we knew they could hit them,” he said.