ELIZABETHTOWN – Seniors Tyquawn Johnson and Marquise Ratliff keyed a 21-5 West Columbus spurt in the third quarter that propelled the Vikings to a 61-36 Three Rivers Conference boys basketball victory Friday night over East Bladen.
Johnson tossed in 7 points, and Ratliff threw in 6 as the Vikings stretched a 24-21 halftime lead to 45-26. Ratliff led the West Columbus scoring with 16 points, and Johnson finished with 13 points. Center Brandis Kelly, a 6-5 junior, powered in 10 of his 14 points in the first half.
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Photos by Kenneth Armstrong
Senior Juwan Baldwin drained a 3-point shot and another basket in the first quarter to keep East Bladen close. Junior teammates Jacob Priest, Lefrederick Wooten and Charles Brown added a basket each, but West led 12-11 at the quarter break.
Wooten bombed in a pair of 3-point shots in the second period, and Brown popped in a basket and a free throw to pull the Eagles to within 24-21.
Junior Donevin Keith connected for a basket and 2 free throws to lead the Eagle second half effort. Senior Tayshaun Berkeley and junior RaSean McKoy added a basket and a free throw each.
Wooten topped the East Bladen scoring with 8 points, and Baldwin and Brown followed with 5 points each.
The Eagles, now 0-4 in the TRC and 1-6 overall, will travel to Wallace-Rose Hill Thursday night.
West Columbus 12 12 21 16 – 61
East Bladen 11 10 5 10 – 36
WEST COLUMBUS (61) – Tyquawn Johnson 13, Marquise Ratliff 16, Tyvon Tyler 3, Brandis Kelly 14, Winston Mason 2, Keywone Sumpter 6, Darrius Marshall 2, Ethan Brown, Naqiis Johnson, Matt McPherson 2, La-Jai Brownlee 2, Justin Conner.
EAST BLADEN (36) – Charles Brown 5, Donevin Keith 4, Tayshaun Berkeley 3, RaSean McKoy 3, Zach Meares 2, Corey McKoy 1, Lefrederick Wooten 8, Malcolm Bolden 2, Juwan Baldwin 5, Jacob Priest 3.