ELIZABETHTOWN – Juniors Zamar Lewis and Jacob Nixon fired in 14 points each Thursday night to lead East Bladen to a 48-37 non-conference boys basketball victory over West Columbus.
Lewis grabbed 10 rebounds to complete his double-double and also blocked 4 shots. Nixon filled up the stat sheet with 7 rebounds and 6 steals. Junior Malcolm Bolden finished with 6 points and 3 steals.
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Photos by Kenneth Armstrong
“I call them my 3-headed monster,” said Eagle Coach Aking Elting. “Malcolm had an off night, but Zee (Lewis) and Jacob came through with big games for us. We got off to a slow start, but then we connected and really started balling.”
Freshman Dominick Collins tossed in 6 points for the Eagles. “I have been beating into his head to go and go. He is young but I tell him he is the point guard and not to worry about mistakes.”
Lewis sank 2 foul shots and junior Malaki Monroe turned a Bolden assist into a lay-up then stole the ball and pitched ahead to Nixon for a lay-up and a 6-0 lead. Junior Yontee Dobson powered in a follow shot for an 8-4 East lead at the quarter break.
Unique Kelly and Jaylen Bellamy threw in a basket and a free throw each as the Vikings edged ahead 10-8. Collins tied the game with a pair of foul shots, but senior Naqiis Johnson knocked down a pair 3-point shots for the Vikings.
Junior Cam White nailed a 3-point shot, and Nixon pulled up for an 8-footer then flipped in a floater and tacked on a free throw for an 18-16 Eagle halftime lead.
Nixon cashed in 2 free throws to begin the 2nd half then delivered a pair of assists that Lewis converted into lay-ups. Lewis hit one free throw, and Nixon dropped in two. Collins banked in a floater through traffic to grow the East lead to 29-20 at the quarter break.
Lewis banged in a rebound to start the final period then muscled in a 3-point play in transition. Collins drove for a lay-up, and Bolden converted a trio of free throws as the Eagle lead grew to 39-21 with 3:04 remaining.
Bolden sent a pass to Lewis for a lay-up, then canned a free throw. Nixon buried a 3-point shot, and 2 Bolden free throws kept the lead at 47-29 with 1:05 left.
Johnson topped the West Columbus scoring with 14 points, and Jaden Elmore followed with 10 points.
The Eagles improved to 6-4 and will travel to Fairmont Monday.
West Columbus 4 12 4 17 – 37
East Bladen 8 10 11 19 – 48
West Columbus (37) –Unique Kelly 3, Naqlis Johnson 14, Jaden Elmore 10, Xander Axelberg, Jaylen Bellamy 7, Cameron Eady 2, James Axelberg 1.
East Bladen (48) – Malcolm Bolden 6, Dominick Collins 6, Jacob Nixon 14, Lee Barnes, Cam White 3, Malaki Monroe 2, Yontee Dobson 3, Zamar Lewis 14, NyQuan Richardson, Ahmad Powell.
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