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Photos by Kenneth Armstrong
CLINTON – A dominating third quarter lifted Clinton to a 62-48 victory over East Bladen on Tuesday night in a Four County Conference basketball game.
The Dark Horses turned a one-point halftime edge into a 12 point lead at the end of the third quarter in moving into second place in the league standings behind unbeaten Heide Trask. Clinton is 6-2 in conference play and 11-6 in all games.
Denzel Johnson had 12 points to lead East Bladen, which dropped to 2-7 in the conference and 5-12 overall.
“They got that little run and that was it,” East Bladen coach Ken Cross said. “Otherwise, it was a close game. You can’t let them have that run. It’s been a problem all year.”
Jeremiah Pope, who had three of Clinton’s five dunks, led the Dark Horses with 17 points, E.J. Howard had 11 and Xzavier Howard added 10.
East Bladen bolted to an 8-2 lead in the opening three minutes behind a pair of Johnson 3-pointers and two free throws from Dayvon Powell. A three-point play by Clinton’s Kris Williams gave the Dark Horses an 11-9 lead at the end of the quarter.
Neither team had more than a three point lead in the second quarter. Powell’s driving layup with 1:25 remaining pulled East Bladen within 23-22.
The Eagles grabbed a 24-23 lead in the opening minute of the third quarter on a bucket by Eian Hines, but Clinton scored 11 of the next 13 points, which included a pair of dunks from Pope, to open a 34-25 lead with 4:04 remaining. After East Bladen pulled with 38-32 on a Sincere Smith basket, the Dark Horses scored the final six points of the quarter for a 44-32 advantage.
East Bladen never got closer than 12 points in the fourth quarter.
East Bladen is scheduled to play at Pender on Friday.
East Bladen (48) – Jermaine Robinson 2, Dayvon Powell 6, Eian Hines 8, Chris Cromartie 2, Trevor Lloyd, Adonis Avery 3, Derrick Burney 5, Denzel Johnson 12, Sincere Smith 8, Demetrius Wooten 2.
Clinton (62) – E.J. Howard 11, Kris Williams 6, Jeremiah Pope 17, Zion Autry 3, Xzavier Howard 10, Logan Batchelor 6, Rayquan Faison 2, Jaquan McLean 4, Tyion Wright 2, Trevor Leggett 1, Drequan Bryant.
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