By John Clark
ELIZABETHTOWN -Kendell Lesane poured in 18 of his 21 points in the 1st quarter as Bladenboro raced to a 21-4 lead en route to a 44-14 victory over Elizabethtown in the championship game of the Bladen County Middle School Boys Tournament.
Kendall Lesane powered in 6 lay-ups, a follow shot, a short runner and a hook shot in the period. Jaquan Lesane, Keonta Hill and Blake Britt dealt assists to Kendell on 3 of his lay-ups. Keonta Hill also drained a 3-point shot in the period.
John Monroe dropped in a lay-up off of the opening tap for Elizabethtown, and teammate Tykee Hill muscled in a lay-up to keep the Cougars tied 4-4 before Kendell Lesane keyed a 17-0 Bladenboro run.
Jaden Lewis opened the 2nd quarter with a lay-up, but Keonta Hill bombed in another 3-point shot for a 24-6 Bulldog lead. Nathan Demery canned a baseline jumper for the Cougars before Kendell Lesane hit a free throw then sent a pass to Chase Bryan who banked in a runner.
Tykee Hill pumped in a follow shot, but Kendell Lesane answered with a lay-up, and Jaquan Lesane stole the ball twice and dashed for a pair of lay-ups and a 33-10 Bladenboro lead at halftime.
Bladenboro’s Blake Britt buried a 3-point shot to start the 2nd half, and teammate Sincere McKinley and Elizabethtown’s Monroe traded runners from the baseline to keep the Bulldog lead at 38-12.
Isaiah Lloyd banged in a rebound basket to begin the final period for the Cougars. Brayden Steele popped in a jumper for the Bulldogs, and teammate Darren Davis worked the paint for a pair of rebound baskets.
Kendell Lesane snared 6 rebounds. Keonta Hill racked up 6 points, 5 steals and 4 rebounds. Jaquan Lesane totaled 4 points and 5 steals. Darren Davis grabbed 6 rebounds to go with his 4 points. Ashton Davis added 4 rebounds and 3 steals, and Calvin Sinclair pulled down 4 rebounds for the Bulldogs.
Tykee Hill and Monroe scored 4 points each for the Cougars. Lewis sparked the Elizabethtown defense with 6 steals. Jadarius McArthur snatched 5 rebounds, and Sheldon Melvin collected 4 rebounds. Lloyd had 2 steals.
Coach Joe Gore’s Bulldogs, now 3-0, will travel to Nakina Thursday, while Elizabethtown, now 1-2, will host Whiteville Central Thursday.
Bladenboro 21 12 5 6 – 44
Elizabethtown 4 6 2 2 – 14
BLADENBORO (44) – Blake Britt 3, Ashton Davis, Jaquan Lesane 4, Kendell Lesane 21, Keonta Hill 6, Chase Bryan 2, Corben Chadwick, John McDowell, Jace Lesane, Darren Davis 4, Sincere McKinley 2, Calvin Sinclair, Sayvion Covington, Brayden Steele 2, Devin Stanley, Lucas Bryant.
ELIZABETHTOWN (14) – John Monroe 4, Jaden Lewis 2, Tykee Hill 4, Nathan Demery 2, Jadarius McArthur, Isaiah Lloyd 2, Damian Maynor, Prince McKoy, Fox Sutton, David Barnes, Sheldon Melvin, Kaden Johnson.
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