ELIZABETHTOWN — East Bladen raced to a 15-2 lead in the first quarter and never trailed Tuesday night in a 59-37 non-conference boys’ basketball victory against South Columbus.
Malcolm Bolden scored 17 points to lead the Eagles and also had six steals, Jacob Nixon added 10 points and seven rebounds, Zamar Lewis had seven points, 11 rebounds and a pair of blocked shots.
East Bladen improved to 5-0 and is scheduled to play at Heide Trask on Wednesday and at Whiteville on Friday.
Bolden opened the game with a 3-pointer. After South Columbus got a basket by Andrew Todd, the Eagles ripped off 12 straight points through the end of the quarter.
The scoring run began with a free throw by Yontee Dobson. Malaki Monroe scored off a pass from Lewis. Nixon followed with a pair of free throws and a 3-point field goal. Bolden stole the ball and drove for a layup. Monroe capped it with a bucket with 20 seconds remaining.
In the second quarter, 3-pointers by Rovaughn Graham and Todd helped the Stallions pull with 24-16 at halftime.
However, the Eagles put the game away with 12 unanswered points to begin the third quarter that made it 36-16. The highlight of the rally was a pair of dunks by Dobson, one that came off a pass from Bolden and the other when he stole the ball and drove in uncontested.
South Columbus never came closer than 17 points the rest of the way.
East Bladen got three free throws from Rodney Lacewell in the final minute of the third quarter that made it 43-21. The Eagles led by 28 at 53-25 with 4:45 remaining following Bolden’s three-point play.
South Columbus 2 14 5 16 — 37
East Bladen 15 9 19 16 — 59
SOUTH COLUMBUS (37) — Jamal Brown 11, Rovaughn Graham 10, Andrew Todd 9, Demonta Gore 1, Ellis Riggins, Chase Clewis, Cole Edge 6, Kai Brownlee, Jaden Mason, Laquintin Floyd, A.J. Taylor, Noah Green.
EAST BLADEN (59) — Dominick Collins 6, Malcolm Bolden 17, Nuquan Richardson, Malaki Monroe 6, Lee Barnes, Cameron White, Yontee Dobson 6, Jacob Nixon 10, J’Marius Smith, Chris Harding, Zamar Lewis 7, Peyton Tatum 4, Rodney Lacewell 3.
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