ROANOKE RAPIDS- Sophmore Anna Vann poured in 27 points to lead Roanoke Rapids to a 70-56 victory over East Bladen Thursday night in the second round of the NCHSAA Class 2A Girls Basketball Play-offs.
Roanoke Rapids improves to 21-6 and advances to play at 26-1 Bertie Saturday. Coach Patty Evers’ Lady Eagles concluded their season with a 22-6 record.
“Even though we lost I thought we played one of our best games all year!,” said Coach Evers. “Everyone played and gave us good minutes. I am proud of these girls for not quitting and having a great season.”
Junior Shardajah Brown drained a 3-point basket and a pair of 2-point shots, and sophmore Ja’Tyra Moore-Peterson tossed in a couple of baskets as East Bladen battled the Lady Yellowjackets to an 11-11 tie at the quarter break.
Vann and sophmore Michelle Stewart threw in 7 points each to spark a 17-7 burst that carried Roanoke Rapids to a 28-18 halftime lead.
Moore-Peterson bombed in a 3-point shot and hit 2 free throws for East in the second period, and Brown added 2 free throws.
Vann and Stewart racked up 8 points each in the third period as the Lady Yellowjackets stretched their lead to 52-31.
Sophmore Ashley Hardin nailed a 3-point shot and pumped in a pair of 2-point baskets for East in the third quarter. Moore-Peterson buried another 3-point shot and made 3 free throws.
Senior Emily Scott rallied the Lady Eagles in the final period with a trio of baskets and connected on all 5 free throws to score all 11 of her points in the quarter.
Moore-Peterson popped in a couple of baskets, and senior Yolanda Coston and Brown fired in 3-point shots. Senior Justyna Gargala added a basket.
Moore-Peterson led the Lady Eagles with 19 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 assists. Scott in her final game for East posted a double of 13 points and 11 rebounds. Brown pumped in 12 points. Ashley Hardin contributed 7 points and 7 rebounds, and Mendell grabbed 4 rebounds.
Stewart followed Vann on the Roanoke Rapids scoring list with 17 points, and Alizae Neville finished with 10 points.
EAST BLADEN (56) – Justyna Gargala 2, Shardajah Brown 12, Emily Scott 13, Anna Kate White, Patience Ward, Ashley Hardin 7, Ja’Tyra Moore-Peterson 19, Yolanda Coston 3, Lorna Mendell.
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