BLADENBORO – Alexus Mitchell scored 23 of Elizabethtown’s 24 points Monday as the Lady Cougars rallied for a 24-20 Bladen Five Middle School Conference girls basketball victory.
The Lady Bulldogs took a 16-13 lead into the final period. Center Hannah Pait scored from the lane, and after Mitchell answered with a basket, Rylee Chadwick pumped in a 14-foot jumper that gave Bladenboro a 20-15 lead.
Mitchell bombed in a 3-point shot then drove for a tying lay-up. Another Mitchell basket put Elizabethtown ahead with 31 seconds left, and she muscled in a rebound basket in the closing seconds.
Chadwick topped the Bladenboro scoring with 12 points, and Hannah Pait finished with 4 points.
Mitchell drove for a lay-up and sank 5 of 7 free throws to give the Lady Cougars an early 7-1 lead. Chadwick connected on 3 of 4 free throws, and Lauren Pait fired in a 10-footer to trim the margin to 7-5 at the quarter break.
Chadwick nailed a 3-point shot, Hannah Pait powered in a bank shot, and Lainey Autry made a free throw as the Lady Bulldogs took an 11-9 halftime lead. Mitchell and Zoe Smith hit a free throw each for Elizabethtown in the quarter.
Chadwick tossed in a pair of third-quarter baskets, and Autry connected on a free throw, while Mitchell dropped in a pair of baskets to keep Elizabethtown close.
The Lady Cougars improved to 4-0 with the victory.
ELIZABETHTOWN (24) – Zoe Smith 1, Lainey Hughes, Alexus Mitchell 23, Ronkira Lennon, Azariah Rhodie, Brianna Phillips, Calise Jackson.
BLADENBORO (20) – Lainey Autry 2, Rylee Chadwick 12, Hannah Hester, Hannah Pait 4, Lauren Pait 2, Grace West, Ariel Mayers, Whitney McLean, Kelsey Williams.