By Brannon King

For the FCT

The Vina Lady Red Devils picked up an exciting home victory over the Cherokee Indians Monday night by a score of 56-54.

Vina led by three points at the half but was outscored 14-4 in the third quarter. It was early in the final period when the defense of the Red Devils took control of the game by forcing turnovers with a press defense that also led to Vina points.

Skyler Smith, Sydney Upton and Morgan Humphres each had seven points in the fourth quarter to make up 21 of Vina’s 26 points in the final period.

Vina’s Fallyn Shotts connected on a big three-pointer with just 2:30 to go in the game to give the Lady Red Devils the lead.

Morgan Humphres of Vina pulled down a key rebound with just over 20 seconds remaining in the game and then scored to put the Red Devils up by four at the time.

Cherokee made a long three-pointer with 1.5 seconds to go in the game to get the Indians to within two but after a timeout, Vina safely threw in the ball to seal the win.

“I thought the girls played really hard,” Vina head coach Paul Humphres said after the win.

“They played with a lot of intensity. They got down and they fought back and they never quit. I’m really proud of them.”

Vina’s Morgan Humphres led all scorers with 18 points. Taylor Tucker also scored in double figures for Vina with 11 points.  She was followed by Skyler Smith (9), Fallyn Shotts (7), Sydney Upton (7), Miranda Howard (3) and Hannah Baggett (1).