03/28/2024
Spread the love

[slideshow_deploy id=’147910′]

Photos by Kenneth Armstrong

ELIZABETHTOWN – Sophomore center Javant McDowell pumped in 16 points, and junior Tyshawn Berkeley nailed a pair of key 3-point shots as East Bladen defeated Whiteville 54-44 in the Three Rivers Conference boys basketball opener for both teams.

Eagle Coach Kenzil McCall pointed to the experience that his team gained last season that played a key role in the victory. “There is a big difference from last year to this year for these guys. They took their bumps and bruises last year, but they were able to settle down and not rush things when it got tough tonight.”

Both teams started slowly, but junior Juwan Baldwin buried a 3-point shot at the 2:54 mark for the first Eagle basket. After a Ty Moss lay-up edged the Wolfpack ahead 5-3, McDowell muscled inside for a lay-up and a follow shot that gave East a 7-5 lead at the quarter break.

Senior guard Pierce Melvin drained a 3-point shot to begin the second quarter then delivered a pass to McDowell for a lay-up. Sophomore Freddy Wooten put back a rebound then knocked down a 3-point shot for a 17-7 Eagle lead.

Senior Darrell Banks drilled in a 3-point shot that grew the margin to 20-9. Melvin pumped in a corner jumper, and McDowell turned a Keshaun Davis assist into a nifty reverse lay-up for a 25-15 lead. East led 26-17 at halftime.

Senior Greyson Heustess threw in a 12-footer and a free throw to begin the second half, and McDowell powered in a 4-footer that kept the margin at 31-21.

Ervin Moore rallied the Wolfpack with a 3-point shot and a transition lay-up, and Cameron Richardson scored twice in transition to tie the score 31-31.

Berkeley beat the third quarter buzzer with a 3-point bomb that pushed East on top 34-31 at the quarter break, then opened the final period with another 3-ball that pushed the lead to 37-31.

“That is what I am expecting from him (Berkeley) from now on,” said Coach McCall. “This is what I knew he was capable of.”

After a Richardson lay-up, McDowell rammed in a 4-footer, and Davis flipped in a rebound. A Berkeley assist produced another McDowell basket and a 43-33 Eagle lead with 3:31 left.

After a Berkeley free throw, McDowell dropped in a lay-up as the Eagles beat the press for a 46-34 lead. Whiteville closed to within 46-38, but Melvin sank 4 straight free throws for a 50-40 lead with 40 seconds remaining.

Berkeley canned 2 foul shots, and Heustess and Melvin hit one each to seal the verdict.

Berkeley and Melvin scored 10 points each for the winners. McDowell grabbed 8 rebounds, and Baldwin and Berkeley pulled down 7 rebounds each. Davis added 6 rebounds, and Wooten totaled 5 points and 5 rebounds.

“The kids played hard,” added McCall. “That is all you can ask of them.”

Richardson topped the Whiteville scoring with 17 points, and Moss finished with 11 points.

The Eagles, now 1-1 on the season, will travel to West Brunswick for a non-conference game Wednesday night.

Whiteville       5   12  14  13 – 44

East Bladen   7   19   8   20 – 54

East Bladen (54) – Keshaun Davis 3, Pierce Melvin 10, Greyson Heustess 4, Bryon Bowen, Javant McDowell 16, Juwan Baldwin 3, Freddy Wooten 5, Robbie Cooley, Darrell Banks 3, Tyshawn Berkeley 10.

 

 

 

 

ReplyForward

 

About Author