ELIZABETHTOWN – Center Rodney Lacewell tossed in 10 points Friday to lead East Bladen to a 37-24 Southeastern Athletic Conference jayvee boys basketball victory over St. Pauls.
Lacewell muscled in 3 baskets in the opening period as the Eagles raced to a 14-4 lead. Zac Metz, Peyton Tatum, Sherman Long and Lee Barnes fired in a basket each for East in the quarter.
Shannon Hankins buried a 3-point shot, and Chace Butler added a basket in the 2nd period, but the Bulldogs trimmed the East lead to 19-12 at halftime.
Lacewell powered inside for a basket and 2 free throws in the 3rd quarter. Barnes nailed a 3-point shot, and Tatum popped in another basket as the Eagle lead grew to 28-16.
Long sank a free throw and a basket in the final period, and Metz, Tatum and Jaylen Suggs pumped in baskets to keep East on top.
Tatum followed Lacewell on the Eagle scoring list with 6 points. Long and Barnes racked up 5 points each, and Metz finished with 4 points. Markeon Fletcher and Mark Smith led the Bulldogs with 6 points each.
Coach Aking Elting’s Eagles improved to 3-5 in SAC-7 play and 6-7 overall. East Bladen will visit Clinton Tuesday.
St. Pauls 4 8 4 8 – 24
East Bladen 14 5 9 9 – 37
ST. PAULS (24) – Jamir McMillan, Markeon Fletcher 6, Tykeim Oxendine 5, Jordan Cook 3, Joshua Garner, Mark Smith 6, Martinez Graham 3, Jamir Morzett 1, Sergio Jackson.
EAST BLADEN (35) – Sherman Long 5, Zac Metz 4, Shannon Hankins 3, Blaine Pope, Peyton Tatum 6, Chace Butler 2, Darius Williamson, Jaylen Suggs 2, Jaamir Stephens, Lee Barnes 5, Rodney Lacewell 10.