TEACHEY – Seniors Eian Hines and Demetrius Wooten combined for 32 points Tuesday night to lead East Bladen to a 61-55 victory over second-seeded Wallace-Rose Hill in the opening round of the Four County Conference Tournament.
Hines led the Eagles with 17 points, and Demetrius Wooten pumped in 15 points. Senior Denzel Johnson and junior Xavier Wooten added 10 points each to the balanced East Bladen attack.
East Bladen advances to a semi-final game against West Bladen Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Pender High School.
Javonte Williams drilled a 3-point shot and made 2 more baskets, and Aliza Carter dropped in 3 baskets as the Bulldogs jumped out to a 16-10 first quarter lead.
Hines and Demetrius Wooten connected for 2 baskets each for East Bladen in the opening period, and Xavier Wooten worked inside for a basket.
Xavier Wooten and Hines keyed an Eagle rally in the second period with 2 baskets each. Demetrius Wooten hit 2 free throws and a basket, and Johnson drained a 3-pointer. Sophmores Adonis Avery and Sincere Smith added a basket each as the Eagles trimmed the margin to 34-29 at halftime.
Quavion Baysden threw in 3 baskets and 2 free throws in the second quarter for Wallace, and Williams connected on another 3-ball and another basket.
The Eagles turned up the defense and limited the Bulldogs to only 6 points in the third quarter while scoring 19 points to take a 48-40 lead. Demetrius Wooten delivered a 3-point shot and another basket to lead the rally.
Avery and Johnson buried 3-point shots in the quarter. Xavier Wooten battled inside for 2 more baskets, and Hines netted a basket and 2 free throws.
Hines and Johnson tallied 2 baskets each in the final quarter to keep the Eagles on top, and Hines tacked on a free throw. Demetrius Wooten and Smith added a basket each.
Carter sparked the Bulldogs attempt at a rally by scoring 8 of his 17 points in the final quarter. Williams scored 6 of his game-high 18 points in the fourth period. Baysden finished with 11 points.
“I am proud of my men tonight,” said East Bladen Coach Kenzil McCall. “We played our best game of the season by far.”
EAST BLADEN (61) – Eian Hines 17, Xavier Wooten 10, Denzel Johnson 10, Aaron Laforte, Adonis Avery 5, Jordan Payton, Sincere Smith 4, Pierce Melvin, Demetrius Wooten 15.
About Author
