ELIZABETHTOWN – Fairmont opened the second half with an 11-0 spurt that broke open a close game and propelled the Tornadoes to an 88-65 non-conference basketball victory over East Bladen Wednesday night in an Endowment Game.
The Tornadoes led 38-33 at halftime but forced 3 Eagle turnovers and scored 11 points in under 2 minutes to take a 49-33 lead.
“I told the team at halftime we were right there – only 5 points down – then they came out and turned up their intensity,” said East Bladen Coach Kenzil McCall. “They quit throwing up 3-pointers and started going to the basket.”
Senior Demetrius Wooten made 5 of 6 free throws, and senior Eian Hines added 2 more as the Eagles closed the gap to 51-40 midway the period.
Six-four bruiser Nalijha Pittman worked inside for 5 baskets, senior Julius Caulder buried a 3-point shot and Derrick Arnette drove for a lay-up and 2 free throws as a 17-2 run grew the Fairmont lead to 68-42.
Senior Denzel Johnson turned a pass from Demetrius Wooten into a lay-up, and Hines drove for a 3-point play that trimmed the margin to 68-47 at the quarter break.
Johnson buried a 3-point shot to start the final quarter. Aaron Laforte put back a rebound, Hines banked in a 10-footer, and Johnson drained another 3-ball and drove for a lay-up. Hines banked in a short jumper to cut the Tornado lead to 76-61 with 3:30 left to play.
The Tornadoes finished the game with a 12-4 run. Demetrius Wooten popped in a jumper and 2 free throws for the Eagle points.
Hines posted a double-double of 23 points and 12 rebounds to lead the Eagle attack. Demetrius Wooten finished with 18 points and 7 rebounds, and Johnson followed with 12 points and 5 rebounds. Sophmore Adonis Avery added 7 points.
Sidney McKeithan topped the Tornado scoring with 20 points, and Nalijha Pittman followed with 18 points. Caulder finished with 15 points, and Arnette tallied 10 points.
Kaheem Pittman grabbed 14 rebounds and with help from Nalijha Pittman and Caulder led the Tornadoes to a 50-30 rebound advantage. “We are still looking for someone to step up inside and help us with rebounding and defense,” said Coach McCall.
Demetrius Wooten and Johnson drove for early lay-ups, and Avery drilled a 3-ball from the right wing that gave the Eagles an early 7-6 lead. Hines flipped in a hook shot to tie the game 9-9.
Hines banked in a runner, then turned an Xavier Wooten feed into a lay-up that tied the game 14-14. Hines rose high to bank in a short jumper that kept East within 20-16 at the quarter break.
The Tornadoes started the second period with a 7-2 run that stretched their lead to 27-18. Demetrius Wooten answered with a short bank shot, and Hines raced end-to-end with a long rebound. A pair of Demetrius Wooten free throws trimmed the margin to 27-24.
Avery turned a Johnson assist into a lay-up, and Demetrius Wooten bombed in a 3-ball to keep East within 32-29. Hines scooped in a lay-up, and Xavier Wooten put back a rebound to pull the Eagles within 38-33 at halftime.
The Eagles return to Four Conference Conference action Friday night at Midway.
EAST BLADEN (65) – Demarius McArthur 1, Demetrius Wooten 18, Eian Hines 23, Xavier Wooten 2, Denzel Johnson 12, Aaron Laforte 2, Adonis Avery 7, Deondre Harris, Joshua McKoy, Jordan Payton.
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