By Damian Mitchell | news@clantonadvertiser.com

Verbena varsity basketball started off strong against Maplesville in the battle of the Red Devils but Maplesville overcame a sluggish first quarter and picked up the victory 49-37 on Jan. 8.

Verbena jumped out to a 10-5 lead at the end of the first quarter with seven points from guard Dawson Rohrbough.

The second quarter went in favor of the Red Devils from Maplesville as they were driving to the basket looking to draw fouls and get those high percentage shots and free throws.

“We had to attack the paint, when you’ve got the height advantage, you have to go inside,” Maplesville coach Stacy McGehee said.

Maplesville took a 24-23 lead into halftime and never trailed again.

Maplesville outscored Verbena 21-10 in the third quarter with guard Chaz Morris scoring eight in the quarter.

Freshman guard Jackson Abbott also added four points to the third quarter lead after he sank four straight free throws off a defensive and technical foul on the same play by Verbena’s Rohrbough.

Maplesville slowed the game down and milked the clock for most of the fourth quarter and only scored four points while holding Verbena to only four points as well.

Nathaniel Watson led Maplesville in scoring with 14 points with Rohrbough leading Verbena with 14 also.