Thirteen different Clinton players scored Thursday night as the Dark Horses pulled away in the second half for an 81-61 Four County Conference victory at East Bladen.
E. J. Howard who led the Dark Horses with 14 points drilled in a 3-pointer and a 15-footer to spark the visitors to a quick 7-2 lead.
Senior Chris Cromartie spun to the basket for a lay-up, junior Ethan Hines popped in a 12-footer, junior Eian Hines hit a free throw and senior Dayvon Powell powered in a lay-up to pull East Bladen even at 9-9.
A finger roll by Dewan Lesane edged Clinton ahead 11-9, and teammate J. J. Robertson drilled a 3-pointer and tacked on a free throw for a 4-point play. Xavier Howard banked in a turn-around for a 17-9 lead.
Eian Hines bombed in a 3-point basket, and senior Jermanine Robinson flipped in a baseline jumper, but Xavier Howard’s 3-pointer gave Clinton a 25-14 lead at the quarter break.
Junior Derrick Burney turned an assist from sophmore Sincere Smith into an Eagle lay-up to begin the second period. Ethan Hines converted a pass from his brother Eian into a lay-up, and Robinson stole the ball and drove for a lay-up that trimmed the Clinton lead to 29-20.
E. J. Howard pumped in a pair of jumpers as Clinton grew the lead back to 36-20. Freshman Adonis Avery nailed a 3-point shot, and Robinson added a pair of free throws for East, but Clinton led 39-25 at halftime.
Powell drove the baseline for a lay-up to start the second half. Demetrius Wooten and Ethan Hines sank free throws, and Robinson bombed in a long 3-pointer to pull East within 41-32.
A Powell follow shot and a Robinson free throw kept the Eagles within 48-35, but Kris Williams banked in a runner and canned 2 free throws to extend Clinton’s lead to 52-35.
Smith tapped in a rebound, and Avery scored on a follow shot, but Jaquan McLean’s driving lay-up capped a 7-4 spurt and stretched the Clinton lead to 59-39.
Cromartie and Avery made 2 free throws each, Powell drove for a lay-up and Burney put back a rebound. Denzel Johnson delivered a pair of 3-point shots, and Avery and Smith knocked in 3 –pointers in the final quarter but the Eagles could get no closer than 20 points.
Powell and Robinson shared scoring honors for the Eagles with 10 points each. Powell grabbed 7 rebounds, and Robinson collected 4 rebounds and 2 steals. Smith finished with 9 points and 6 rebounds. Avery tallied 8 points.
Johnson had 6 points, and Ethan Hines contributed 5 points and 7 rebounds. Eian Hines followed with 4 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals. Burney and Cromartie scored 4 points each, and Burney pulled down 5 rebounds with Cromartie grabbing 4 rebounds.
Kris Williams and Xavier Howard scored 9 points each for Clinton.
East Bladen will travel to East Columbus tonight for a non-conference game.
East Bladen (61) –Denzel Johnson 6, Jermaine Robinson 10, Demetrius Wooten 1, Dayvon Powell 10, Ethan Hines 5, Eian Hines 4, Sincere Smith 9, Chris Cromartie 4, Trevor Lloyd, Adonis Avery 8, Tyquan McMillian, Derrick Burney 4.
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