The first few minutes of the Williston and Vanguard (Ocala) girls basketball game on Friday night was a good indication of the final outcome.

Seven different players scored early for the host Red Devils, who built a 17-0 lead just three minutes in, as Williston imposed a running clock on the visiting Knights (6-6) in a 63-28 win on day one of the Red Devil Classic.

“Well, I guess they were hungry because we hadn’t played since the beginning of the year,” said Williston coach Willie Powers. “We talked about coming out, starting fast, and trying to make sure we get ready for the end of the season.”

Williston, which was playing its first game since Dec. 28, used a full-court pressure defense to force double-digit turnovers in the opening quarter.

By the time the period was over, a total of 10 players had scored and the score was 28-9.

In fact, the start to the second quarter was even greater.

A 3-ball from the right wing by sophomore shooting guard Delecia Dallas (5 points) just five seconds into the period helped spark a 20-0 run in the second quarter.

Sophomore guard Taylor Powers (game-high 11 points) had her own 7-0 run, including a right-wing 3-pointer and a teardrop in the paint for a 38-9 lead with 5:50 to play in the half.

Less than four minutes later Williston extended the lead to 48-9 on a bucket by freshman guard Trinity Solomon (6 points).

“We hit shots finally,” Powers said. “We’re trying to get in the rhythm and getting our legs under us so that really helped hitting some shots and actually playing some pretty good defense.”

The reserves dominated the first half for Williston, outscoring Vanguard’s bench 28-4 as the Red Devils led 50-13 at the half to ensure a running clock in the second half.

Eighth-grader Janiyah Span was next in scoring with eight points, including six in the fourth quarter, while eighth-grader Jayla Coleman added seven off the bench. All 11 players who scored had four points or more in the game.

“Very important because at the end of the year you never know who is going to have the hot hand,” Powers said. “It’s a lot harder to guard five than it is to guard one or two.”

Williston, which is ranked 27^th overall in Florida and third in the FHSAA’s Rural classification, improved to 11-2.

A total of six games are scheduled for day two on Saturday, including the finale at 7:30 p.m. as the Red Devils host Class 5A No. 11 Lincoln (Tallahassee) (11-4).

“It’s going to be pretty good,” Powers said. “I think the teams are evenly matched. There’s going to be some pretty good basketball. You’ve got teams from Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Ocala, Gainesville, so we get a chance in Williston to see some quality competition.”

Rickards (Tallahassee) 46, Buchholz 37 – In the first game of the day, the young Bobcats got off to a good start, but the Raiders used a big run to pull away.

Rickards, which trailed 12-9 at the end of the first quarter, went on a 16-0 run and held Buchholz scoreless the final seven minutes of the first half in a 46-37 win.

Buchholz coach Niya Johnson told her team in the locker room to “just weather the storm.”

“We had to match their intensity and their aggression, like how they were defending us pressuring us full court, on ball. We had to reciprocate that. I told them just be aggressive coming out. We’re not down by a lot. It’s all about getting stops.”

Buchholz (3-7), which only starts one senior, got as close as seven in the third quarter at 32-25 on a three-pointer from the right wing by freshman guard Alessia Chaves-Torres, who scored five of her game-high 17 points in the fourth quarter.

“That’s nothing to her,” Johnson said. “She’s been an awesome contributor to this team and a great leader. I know she’s a freshman, but she plays like a senior. What I preach to her all the time is change of speed and just being aggressive because there’s a difference coming from middle school to high school.”

Rickards (13-2), which is ranked 21^st overall in Florida and No. 4 in Class 4A, went on a 10-1 run to build a 42-26 lead early in the fourth quarter.

However, a left corner 3-pointer from Chaves-Torres got Buchholz within seven again at 42-35 with 4:30 remaining, but that’s as close as they would get.

“We’re still trying to figure each other out,” said Johnson, whose team will play Florida High (Tallahassee) at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. “There’s a lot of bumpy roads…we’re taking it one game at a time.”

Saturday, Jan. 11 – Red Devil Classic at Williston High School

P.K. Yonge vs. Hope Prep Academy (Groveland), 12 p.m.

Eastside vs. Trenton, 1:30 p.m.

Providence (Jacksonville) vs. West Port (Ocala), 3 p.m.

Buchholz vs. Florida High (Tallahassee), 4:30 p.m.

Gainesville vs. Rickards (Tallahassee), 6 p.m.

Williston vs. Lincoln (Tallahassee), 7:30 p.m.