Spread the love

SHALLOTTE — Sophomore Ronnie Covington beat the buzzer with a pull-up 10-footer that lifted East Bladen to a season-opening 54-52 non-conference boys’ basketball victory over West Brunswick Tuesday night.

With the score tied at 52, the Trojans went to a delay game that ran over 2 minutes off the clock before Eagle junior Chace Butler drew an offensive foul from Trojan star K’veon Griffin with 15 seconds left.

After a couple of East time-outs, Butler sent a pass to Covington in the middle of the floor, and Covington knocked down the game-winner.

“It was a big win for us,” said Eagle Coach Aking Elting who had only 7 players available due to the football team’s advancing to the final 4 in the Class 1A Eastern Semifinals. Five East basketball players are on the football team.

The lack of depth was becoming a factor late as 3 Eagles had 4 personal fouls each when the game ended. Assistant Coach Jay Raynor said, “Extremely well coached game by Coach (Elting). The guys played as a team that’s for sure.”

East Bladen’s Sherman Long buried four 3-point shots and scored 13 of his game-high 16 points in the 2nd half. Junior Dominick Collins sank 7 of 9 foul shots in the opening period and finished with 13 points.

Senior Lee Barnes drained a trio of 3-point shots and tallied 9 points for the winners. Covington pumped in 8 points, and speedy sophomore Tevin McClean added 6 points.

Sophomore Jude Surigao topped the Trojan scoring with 15 points. Griffin followed with 12 points, and senior Josiah Johnson totaled 8 points.

Collins dropped in the 7 free throws, Covington tossed in a pair of baskets, and McClean flipped in a basket as the Eagles built an early 13-10 lead. Collins threw in 2 baskets, and Long and Barnes nailed 3-point shots for East in the 2nd quarter.

Johnson and Johnathan Daniels answered with 3-balls as West edged ahead 26-23 at halftime. Surigao pumped in 8 points in the 3rd period for the Trojans.

However the Eagles bombed in five 3-balls in the quarter – 3 by Long and 2 by Barnes. Butler dropped in a basket, Long netted 2 free throws, and McClean hit one as the period ended in a 43-43 tie.

Collins, Long, Covington and McClean popped in baskets in the final quarter, and McClean tacked on a free throw before Covington delivered the game-winner.

The Eagles will travel to rival West Bladen Tuesday night, while West Brunswick, now 0-2, will host South Columbus Tuesday night.

East Bladen 13 10 20 11 — 54
West Brunswick 10 16 17 9 — 52

East Bladen (54) – Dominick Collins 13, Chace Butler 2, Sherman Long 16, Lee Barnes 9, Shannon Hankins, Ronnie Covington 8, Tevin McClean 6.

West Brunswick (52) – K’veon Griffin 12, Royce Metters 2, Johnathan Daniels 5, Isaac Clarida, Tyreek Woodard, Jude Surigao 15, Tristen Roberts 7, Kaden Bryant 3, Harrison Daherty, Josiah Johnson 8.