DUNN – Juniors Malcolm Bolden and Jordan Mathis sparked a 20-3 East Bladen spurt in the 3rd quarter that overcame a 14-point deficit and propelled the Eagles to a 57-56 Southeastern Athletic Conference boys’ basketball victory over Midway Tuesday night.
Bolden lit up the scoreboard with 3 baskets and 2 free throws in the period, and Mathis sank 3 free throws and 2 baskets. Senior Nazire Smith nailed a 3-point shot, and junior Jacob Nixon tossed in a bucket to vault the Eagles on top 42-39.
Eagle junior Malaki Monroe threw in a couple of baskets in the final quarter, and junior Yontee Dobson flipped in a basket, but it was Bolden who kept the Raiders at bay firing in 2 baskets then connecting on 5 free throws in the closing minutes to pad the East lead to 57-53.
Davis Williams supplied the bulk of the Midway offense by blistering the nets with 8 3-point shots in the game. Williams hurled in a 3-pointer, and another basket in the final period then banked in another 3-ball as time expired to whittle the margin to one.
Bolden rang up 17 of his 25 points for the Eagles in the 2nd half and also contributed 5 assists and 6 steals. Mathis just missed a double-double with 13 rebounds and 9 points.
Smith checked all the stat columns for East with 7 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals. Nixon finished with 5 points, 2 steals and 2 assists. Dobson grabbed 6 rebounds, and junior Cam White scored 5 points.
Williams racked up 29 points for the Raiders, and Casey Culbreth tallied 15 points. Four Williams 3-balls and 9 points from Culbreth carried Midway to an early 23-11 lead. White buried a 3-point shot and another basket for East in the opening period. Smith attacked the rims for a pair of baskets, and Nixon added a field goal.
Bolden drove for a trio of baskets and 2 free throws in the 2nd quarter. Mathis dropped in a bucket, and Nixon hit a free throw, but two more Raider 3-balls kept Midway on top 36-22 at halftime.
Coach Aking Elting’s Eagles improved to 7-3 in SAC-7 play and 12-7 overall. East Bladen is currently tied with Red Springs for 2nd place and will travel to Clinton Wednesday night.
East Bladen 11 11 20 15 – 57
Midway 23 13 3 17 –56
East Bladen (57) – Ahmad Powell, Malcolm Bolden 25, Jordan Mathis 9, Jacob Nixon 5, Nazire Smith 7, Cam White 5, Peyton Tatum, Yontee Dobson 2, Malaki Monroe 4, Rodney Lacewell.
Midway (56) – Warren Naylor, Davis Williams 29, Trey Gregory 1, Jaylin Baggett, Casey Culbreth 15, Jack Hazelbeck 2, Wyatt Holland 5, Israel Cook, Tripp Westbrook 4.
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