ELIZABETHTOWN – Freshman Dominick Collins sank the 2 clinching free throws with 20 seconds left as East Bladen held on for a 51-47 non-conference boys’ basketball victory over Gray’s Creek Tuesday night.
Gray’s Creek’s Ari Fulton banked in a 3-point shot with 3:21 remaining to vault the Bears ahead 41-40, but Eagle junior Jacob Nixon answered with a 10-foot fade-away to put the Eagles back on top 42-41.
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Photos by Kenneth Armstrong
Junior Malcolm Bolden padded the lead to 44-41 with a pair of free throws then nailed a 3-point shot at the 2-minute mark to push the lead to 47-42. Moments later a Bolden feed set up a lay-up for Jordan Mathis that stretched the lead to 49-42.
Fulton, a sophomore who led the Bears with 19 points, muscled in a rebound, and Kawamonie Chapel’s 1-hand runner closed the gap to 49-46, before Collins sealed the verdict with his 2 free throws.
Bolden sparked the Eagle offense with 19 points and 6 steals. Nixon finished with 16 points, and senior Nazire Smith contributed 8 points and 5 rebounds. Junior Zamar Lewis dominated the Eagle inside game with 8 blocked shots, 10 rebounds and 3 steals.
“Malcolm, Jacob and Zee (Zamar Lewis) all came up big for us there at the end,” said Eagle Coach Aking Elting. “Those were 2 huge free throws by Dominick, and Jordan Mathis is the glue that holds this team together. I am so proud of my guys. They showed a lot of heart and grit out there.”
Smith muscled in a follow and a runner to begin the game, and Bolden scored in transition then drilled in a long 3-ball for an early 9-4 lead. Nixon fired in a 3-ball, Smith flipped in a lay-up, and Mathis tapped in a follow for a 16-9 Eagle lead at the quarter break.
Nixon pulled up for a 16-footer then hit 2 foul shots to give East a 20-11 lead, before Fulton keyed a 15-4 Bear run to end the half. Nixon tossed in both of the Eagle baskets in the closing minutes.
A Bolden free throw and a Smith basket trimmed the margin to 28-27. Fulton slammed in a dunk, but the Eagles answered with a 10-0 run. Nixon and Bolden hit free throws. Bolden turned 2 steals into a pair of lay-ups. Nixon drove for a lay-up, and Lewis powered in a follow for a 37-30 East lead.
Bolden drove for a lay-up and a 3-point play to keep the Eagles up 40-34 to start the final period before the Bears made their final run.
Camonte Williams followed Fulton with 10 points for the Bears. Eden Hilton-Epps added 8 points.
The Eagles, now 2-0, will host Whiteville Friday.
Gray’s Creek 9 17 6 15 – 47
East Bladen 16 8 13 14 – 51
GC (47) – Kawamonie Chapel 4, Eden Hilton-Epps 8, Camonte Williams 10, Travis Harrison 4, Deante Wike 2, Ari Fulton 19,
EB (51) – Malcolm Bolden 19, Dominick Collins 2, Jordan Mathis 4, Lee Barnes, Jacob Nixon 16, Cameron White, Nazire Smith 8, Malaki Monroe, Zamar Lewis 2.
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