W. Memphis applies pressure early, cruises

SEARCY — West Memphis forced 26 turnovers and turned them into 27 points as the Lady Blue Devils blew past Searcy 62-27 on Tuesday night.

West Memphis (15-8, 5-4 7A/6A-East) jumped out to a 20-9 lead in the first quarter behind senior Alexis Hamlet, who scored 13 of her gamehigh 14 points in the quarter. Hamlet left the game with 6:37 to play in the third quarter after turning her ankle.

The Lady Devils hit eight of their first 13 shots, including 2 of 4 three-point attempts, and led 17-7 with 42 seconds to play in the first quarter after a three-pointer from Anquanetta Chatt.

West Memphis scored the final 12 points of the first half as it took a 34-14 lead in halftime.

“We’ve been working on variations off our 3-2 matchup zone lately, and tonight it looked really good,” West Memphis Coach Shelia Burns said. “Having everybody working on all cylinders also helps.”

Junior forward Amesha Hamlet, Alexis’ sister, scored 12 points and grabbed a teamhigh eight rebounds.

“Amesha is coming into her own,” Burns said.

West Memphis extended its lead to 53-23 by the end of the third quarter and was never threatened.

Junior point guard Sable Greer added 12 points for the Lady Devils, while Chatt finished with two three-pointers for 6 points.

Allie Brown scored eight points to lead Searcy (6-14, 1-7), and Keke Broadway added six points.

Burns said Alexis Hamlet would be ready to play Friday when the Lady Devils host Cabot.

“She has to play, that’s all there is to it,” Burns said. “I think we’ll give her [today] off, but I think she’ll be ready even if her ankle’s a little sore on Friday night.”