ST PAULS – East Bladen’s Eagles are Southeastern Athletic Conference co-champions! The Eagles senior trio of Jacob Nixon, Malcolm Bolden and Zamar Lewis combined for 44 points, 23 rebounds, 10 assists, 5 blocks and 5 steals Friday night in a 56-50 victory over St. Pauls.
East Bladen completed regular season play with a 9-3 SAC-7 record and 17-5 overall mark. The Eagles are in a dead-even tie with rival West Bladen who defeated Midway 41-30 to also finish 9-3 in the SAC-7. A coin flip will be held Saturday to determine who receives the No. 1 seed and a 1st round bye in the league tournament.
Nixon topped the Eagle scoring list with 21 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists and bombed in four 3-point shots. Lewis just missed a double-double with 9 points, 14 rebounds, 4 blocked shots and 2 steals. Bolden contributed 14 points, 5 assists and 3 steals. Sophomore Dominick Collins added 8 points, 4 assists and 3 steals to the East attack.
Nixon buried a pair of 3-point shots in the 1st period. Collins, senior Malaki Monroe and Lewis tossed in baskets, and Bolden hit a free throw as the Eagles raced to a 13-6 lead.
The Nixon onslaught continued in the 2nd quarter as he drained a 3-point shot, another basket and 2 free throws. Bolden made 2 free throws, and Lewis and sophomore Rodney Lacewell powered in baskets for a 26-12 halftime lead.
Bolden caught fire in the 3rd period firing in a trio of baskets. Collins threw in a pair of baskets, and Nixon and Lewis dropped in a basket each to keep the East lead at 40-28. Guard Lukus Osborne rallied the Bulldogs with a pair of 3-point shots, and senior Elijah Blanding delivered a 3-ball and another basket.
Nixon nailed another 3-ball, another basket and a free throw in the final quarter. Bolden pumped in 2 baskets and a free throw. Lewis tacked on a basket and a free throw, and Collins cashed in 2 free throws as the Eagles held on for the win.
Blanding lit up the scoreboard with a pair of 3-balls and 2 other baskets in the 4th quarter. Osborne was 4 for 4 at the foul line and netted another basket, and Cameron Revels knocked down a 3-ball. Osborne led the Bulldogs with 18 points. Blanding followed with 16 points, and senior Marcus Galbreath scored 7 points.
St. Pauls dropped into a 3rd place tie with Red Springs – a 62-54 winner over Fairmont.
East Bladen 13 13 14 16 — 56
St Pauls 6 6 16 22 — 50
East Bladen (56) – Dominick Collins 8, Malcolm Bolden 14, Malaki Monroe 2, Yontee Dobson, Jacob Nixon 21, Zamar Lewis 9, Peyton Tatum, Rodney Lacewell 2.
St. Pauls (50) – Jordan Cook 1, Cameron Revels 5, Lukus Osborne 18, Elijah Blanding 16, Kemarion Baldwin, Jamarcus Smith, Theo Setzer, Marcus Galbreath 7, Jamir McMillan, Houston Hunt, Antigone McCollum, Tyson Thompson 3.
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