HOPE MILLS – Sophomore Kaya Goldsby sparked a 22-5 first quarter run that propelled Jack Britt to a 56-29 basketball victory over East Bladen in the third-place game of the Cumberland County Women’s Holiday Festival at Gray’s Creek.
Goldsby threw in 5 first period baskets, junior Amber Nealy drained a 3-point shot and another basket, and sophomore Jennifer Pongnon dropped in 2 baskets for Britt.
Sophomore Mya McDonald fired in all 5 points for East Bladen in the quarter, and senior teammate Patience Ward pumped in a basket and 2 free throws in the second period.
Two baskets by 6-foot junior Ashara Hayes led Britt to a 35-9 halftime lead. Goldsby topped the Lady Buccaneers with 20 points, and Nyla Cooper followed with 8 points.
McDonald tossed in 4 baskets and 3 free throws in the second half and led the Lady Eagle scoring with 16 points. Ward finished with 6 points, and sophomore Alexus Mitchell added 5 points.
“Two losses back-to-back may sound terrible, but it is a learning curve for this team!” said Lady Eagle Coach Patty Evers. “This tournament provided the competition we needed to move forward in conference play.”
The Lady Eagles, now 9-2, will return to action at St. Pauls on Jan. 3rd in a key Three Rivers Conference game.
EAST BLADEN (29) – Katie Evans, Lily Lin, Mya McDonald 16, Alexus Mitchell 5, AnnaGrey Heustess 2, Abbie Cross, Maegan Burney, Patience Ward 6, Sara Gargala, Aaniyah Jackson, Lorna Mendell, Makayla Dixon.
JACK BRITT (56) – Nyla Cooper 8, Kaya Goldsby 20, Nariyah Nixon 2, Amber Nealy 8, Ashara Hayes 6, Zaniyah Marsh, Janiyah Brown 2, Mickayla Jones, Aulani Davenport 2, Jennifer Pongnon 6, Takina Bynum 2.
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