Contributed
BLADENBORO – The First Flight Nighthawks poured in seventeen 3-point baskets Friday in an 88-49 victory over East Bladen Friday in the Adidas Christmas Tournament.
Junior Dylan Blake, senior Grayson Bell and junior Reese Jones buried 3-point shots as the Nighthawks jumped in front 9-3 early in the first quarter.
Senior Geryson Heustess who nailed a 3-pointer for the initial Eagle basket popped in a 6-footer, and senior Keshaun Davis put back a rebound to trim the margin to 9-7. However Jones drained a pair of 3-point shots to highlight a 12-0 Nighthawk burst that opened up a 21-7 lead at the quarter break.
Senior Bryon Bowen muscled in a pair of baskets to begin the second period as the Eagles pulled to within 21-12 on Davis’ free throw. Three-point bombs from Bell and Jones and a pair of driving lay-ups by Jordan High pushed the Nighthawk lead to 31-14.
Sophmore Javant McDowell rallied the Eagles with a turn-around jumper and a trio of rebound baskets. Corey McKoy fired in a 3-point shot, and Davis drove for a lay-up as the Eagles closed the gap to 36-27 at halftime.
Bowen and McDowell dropped in lay-ups to start the second half that kept the Eagles within 41-31, but McDowell went to the bench with his third personal foul at the 5:55 mark. A 21-6 Nighthawk surge opened up a 62-37 lead at the quarter break. Bell threw in a pair of 3-balls during the run, and Blake and Jones added one each.
The Nighthawks rippled the nets with four more 3-pointers in the final quarter – two each from Jones and Blake.
McDowell posted a double-double for the Eagles with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Davis finished with 10 points and 4 rebounds. Bowen followed with 6 points, and Robbie Cooley and sophmore Freddy Wooten grabbed 4 rebounds each.
“They came out hot and couldn’t miss,” said Eagle Coach Kenzil McCall. “We stunk it up and didn’t play nearly as well as we did Thursday.”
Jones connected on seven 3-point shots and led the Nighthawks with 24 points. Blake delivered five 3-point shots and scored 21 points. High also scored 21 points for First Flight. Bell threw in four 3-point baskets and totaled 12 points.
East Bladen will play rival West Bladen Saturday at 2 p.m. First Flight will play Saturday at 4 p.m. against West Brunswick.
East Bladen (49) – Keshaun Davis 10, Greyson Heustess 5, Bryon Bowen 6, Pierce Melvin 3, Javant McDowell 12, Juwan Baldwin, Freddy Wooten 5, Darrell Banks, Robbie Cooley, Tyshawn Berkeley 1, Corey McKoy 7, Rashard Willis, Orlando Murchison.
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