East Bladen seniors Maya McDonald and Alexus Mitchell and West Bladen junior Makayla Wright have been named to the All-Southeastern Athletic Conference girls’ basketball team.
McDonald and Mitchell led the Lady Eagles to a 26-4 record and into the NCHSAA Class 2A Eastern Regional semifinals. McDonald averaged 13 points, 9 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 4 steals per game –all of them were team-highs. Mitchell averaged 11.3 points, 3 assists and 3.3 steals per game.
Both were at their best in the Lady Eagles 71-62 3rd round playoff win at North Lenoir where McDonald posted a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds, and Mitchell sank 13 of 14 free throws and finished with 26 points.
McDonald racked up 7 double-doubles during the season and had a triple double of 18 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists against Clinton. She poured in 30 points in a Holiday Classic win over Wilmington Ashley then totaled 18 points and 15 rebounds against Topsail. McDonald pulled down a whopping career-high of 24 rebounds in a play-off win at East Carteret, and had 23 points, 9 rebounds and 7 steals in a win at Red Springs.
Mitchell nailed all 5 of her 3-point shots in a play-off win over Clinton, pumped in 16 points in the win over Ashley and filled up the stat sheet with 18 points, 6 assists and 7 steals in another win over Clinton. She also tallied 13 points in the play-off win at East Carteret.
Wright was one of the constants for Coach Brian McCleney’s Lady Knights during an injury plagued season. “Makayla has the ability to rebound the ball at one end then take it on on the dribble to the other end,” said McCleney. “You don’t find too many players who can do that.”
The versatile junior who helped lead the West Bladen defense averaged 7 points per game and poured in a career high 21 points against Clinton. She also tossed in 17 points in a win over South Columbus and had 7 steals and 6 rebounds in a win at East Columbus.
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