TAR HEEL – Kearean Ballard fired in 22 points to lead Tar Heel to a 37-24 boys basketball victory over Clarkton School of Discovery Tuesday night in the Bladen County Middle School Tournament.
Samaj Dove tossed in a basket and a free throw, and teammates Rodney Lacewell and Martin Rojas-Jacinto netted baskets as the Blue Devils forged an early 7-6 lead.
Ballard kept the Panthers close with a pair of baskets, and teammate Jordan Underwood popped in a basket.
Nyquan Richardson pumped in a basket and a free throw in the second quarter, and Lacewell and Dove tallied baskets to keep Clarkton on top 14-13 at halftime.
Ballard connected for a basket and a free throw, and Underwood and Ikeir Murchison dropped in baskets for Tar Heel.
The Panthers rode a 14-3 third quarter spurt to a 27-17 lead. Ballard lit up the scoreboard with 3 baskets and 2 free throws, and Underwood threw in a pair of baskets. Richardson bombed in a 3-point shot for the only CSD points in the quarter.
Ballard pumped in 3 more baskets and a free throw in the final quarter, and Underwood drilled in a 3-point shot.
Corey Robbins delivered a pair of baskets for Clarkton in the final period, and Shannon Hankins buried a 3-point shot.
Underwood finished with 11 points for the Panthers, and Murchison tallied 4 points. Richardson led Clarkton with 6 points, Dove followed with 5 points, and Robbins and Lacewell totaled 4 points each.
Coach Priscilla Council’s Panthers recorded their first win of the season and will play Elizabethtown in the tournament championship game at 5:15 Thursday.
The Blue Devils, now 2-4, will host Bladenboro Tuesday.
CSD (24) –Shannon Hankins 3, Matt Kemp, Lee Barnes, Aniyaes Bethea, Martin Rojas-Jacinto 2, Rodney Lacewell 4, Janathan Johnson, Corey Robbins 4, Samaj Dove 5, Nyquan Richardson 6, Keyon McKoy.
TH (37) – Deyon McDonald, Ikeir Murchison 4, Kearean Ballard 22, Jordan Underwood 11, Aquani Hilton, Stefane Jessup, Ahmir Stepps, Saquan Lewis, Camron Page, Tyrek Ballard.
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