WHITEVILLE – Senior guards Malcolm Bolden and Jacob Nixon combined for 29 points, and East Bladen senior Zamar Lewis grabbed a whopping 18 rebounds Friday night, but the Eagles had to survive a late Whiteville rally to escape with a 51-45 non-conference boys’ basketball victory.
For over 22 minutes the Eagles were steadily building a lead that reached 19 points at 36-17 late in the 3rd quarter, before the Wolfpack fought back with a 28-15 surge that trimmed the final margin to 6 points.
“It’s East Bladen/Whiteville,” said Eagle Coach Aking Elting. “They never give up and no lead is secure. You know it is going to be a dogfight.”
Will Fisher threw in a trio of baskets in the final minutes of the 3rd period to trim the East lead to 36-23 at the quarter break. Another Fisher basket began the 4th quarter.
Nixon interrupted the spurt with a lay-up, and Lewis stole that the ball and bolted down the court for another lay-up as the lead grew back to 41-26. Bolden cashed in 7 free throws in the final 2 minutes, and sophomore Dominick Collins put back his own rebound and hit a free throw.
Bolden led the Eagles with 16 points and 2 steals. Nixon finished with 13 points and 6 rebounds. Lewis just missed a double-double with 9 points and the 18 rebounds. Collins contributed 5 points, 3 assists and 2 steals. Senior Malaki Monroe grabbed 6 rebounds.
Nixon banged in a rebound to start the game. Lewis made a free throw then slammed in a dunk off of a Collins’ assist. Nixon drained a 3-pointer, senior Yontee Dobson netted 2 lay-ups – 1 off of a Collins assist – and Bolden stole the ball twice and dashed for lay-ups as East built a 16-6 lead.
Another Collins assist resulted in a Lewis lay-up to begin the 2nd period. Collins drove the baseline for a lay-up, and a Nixon steal and pass ahead produced a Bolden lay-up. Dobson powered in another lay-up as the East lead grew to 24-9, before Whiteville cut the margin to 24-13 at halftime.
Monroe opened the 2nd half with a lay-up, and Nixon nailed a 3-pointer. Lewis tossed in an 8-footer then sent an assist to Bolden for a lay-up. Nixon buried another 3-ball as the lead reached 36-17.
“I was proud of the way the guys bounced back from the loss at Trask,” said Elting. “They came out ready to go tonight.”
Fisher led all scorers with 22 points for the Wolfpack. Kyan Ganus finished with 9 points.
The Eagles, now 6-1, will travel to Midway Friday night for their Southeastern Athletic Conference opener.
East Bladen 16 8 12 15 – 51
Whiteville 6 7 10 22 – 45
EAST BLADEN (51) – Dominick Collins 5, Malcolm Bolden 16, Malaki Monroe 2, Yontee Dobson 6, Jacob Nixon 13, Zamar Lewis 9, Peyton Tatum.
WHITEVILLE (45) – Amari Best 5, Will Fisher 22, Kyan Ganus 9, Cade Little 3, Kayshawn McCullum, Montrice Holland 1, Damarion Hall 4, D. J. Shipman 1, Zayshawn Bennett, Desmond Marlowe.
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