CLINTON – Senior Jacob Nixon posted a triple-double of 25 points, 10 rebounds and 10 steals, and East Bladen rode a 48-16 2nd half surge to an 83-48 Southeastern Athletic Conference boys’ basketball victory over Clinton Thursday night.
Coach Aking Elting’s Eagles improved to 7-1 in the SAC-7 and moved into 1st place a half-game ahead of St. Pauls’ pending the outcome of St. Pauls’ Friday night game versus Red Springs. East Bladen, now 15-3 overall, will travel to West Bladen Monday night.
Nixon and senior guard Malcolm Bolden who recorded a double-double of 18 points and 10 assists combined for 23 points to spark a 31-8 3rd quarter Eagle blitz that broke the game open. Coach Elting shared that “Bolden missed a good bit of playing time due to a nasty cut to his face.”
Bolden fired in a 3-point shot, 3 baskets and 2 free throws in the 3rd period. Nixon poured in 5 baskets and 2 free throws during the winning run. Senior Zamar Lewis and sophomore Rodney Lacewell powered in 2 baskets each in the quarter as the Eagle lead exploded from 35-32 to 66-40.
Lewis banged in 2 more baskets in the final quarter. Senior Cameron White threw in a 3-point shot, junior Peyton Tatum sank 2 free throws, and Bolden, Lacewell and seniors Malaki Monroe and NyQuan Richardson added a basket each.
Nixon was credited with 5 assists. Lewis dominated the boards and also finished with a double-double yanking down 18 rebounds to go with his 13 points, 6 blocked shots and 3 assists.
Lacewell tossed in 11 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Sophomore guard Dominick Collins dished out 4 assists and had 4 rebounds, and Monroe tallied 4 points and 2 assists. Tatum snatched 4 rebounds, and junior Chris Harding corralled 3 rebounds.
Bolden drilled in a 3-point shot and another basket, and Lewis worked the paint for 2 baskets and a free throw in the 1st quarter. Collins flipped in 2 baskets, Nixon canned 2 free throws, and Monroe and Lacewell netted a basket each as the Eagles built a 20-16 lead.
Nixon took charge in the 2nd period bombing in a pair of 3-pointers, another basket and making 3 free throws. Lacewell and Tatum added free throws, and Lacewell muscled in a basket.
The Dark Horses connected on ten 3-balls in the game – 6 in the 1st half. Josiah McLaurin led Clinton with 10 points, and T. K. Raynor followed with 9 points.
East Bladen 20 15 31 17 – 83
Clinton 16 16 8 8 – 48
East Bladen (83) – Dominick Collins 4, Malcolm Bolden 18, NyQuan Richardson 2, Malaki Monroe 4, Lee Barnes, Cameron White 3, Yontee Dobson, Jacob Nixon 25, J’marius Smith, Chris Harding, Zamar Lewis 13, Peyton Tatum 3, Rodney Lacewell 11.
Clinton (48) – Camden Davis 8, Walker Spell, T. K. Raynor 9, Javier Joyner 3, Cashmon Edwards 8, Ny’Darion Blackwell 7, Jaymon Bryant 2, Henry Faison, Tarik Dyches 4, Josiah McLaurin 10, Gregory Coxum, Zy’mel McLellan.
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