ELIZABETHTOWN – Jacksonville Northside’s zone defense limited East Bladen to 7 second-half points as the Monarchs rallied for a 52-38 non-conference victory Friday night.
The Monarchs trailed 31-23 at halftime but switched to the 2-3 zone and began the second half with a 10-0 run to take a 33-31 lead. Junior Charles Brown bombed in a 3-point shot for a 34-33 Eagle lead at the 2:47 mark, but freshman Ya’Claan Baker answered with a 3-point shot for a 36-34 Monarch lead at the quarter break.
The Northside lead grew to 41-35, before Jacob Priest nailed a 3-point shot to close the gap to 41-38 with 4:18 on the clock. The Monarchs finished the game with an 11-0 run.
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Photos by Kenneth Armstrong
“Lot of one and done in the second half,” said Aking Elting after his first game as the Eagles head coach. “One shot and they get the rebound. We didn’t come out with any fire in the second half, and we didn’t rebound.”
Brown led the Eagles with 11 points and 6 rebounds. Junior Javant McDowell totaled 8 points and 12 rebounds, but sat out 4 minutes in the third quarter due to foul trouble. Priest added 6 points and 5 rebounds.
A trio of Brown free throws and a steal and lay-up by Tayshaun Berkeley gave the Eagles an early 5-3 lead. McDowell slammed in a pair of dunks – one off of a steal and assist from Juwan Baldwin. Baldwin canned a long jumper, and Priest turned a rebound into a 3-point play as the Eagles took a 14-7 lead at the quarter break.
McDowell drained a 3-point shot to start the 2nd period, and Baldwin sank 2 free throws to stretch the Eagle lead to 20-10. The Monarchs rallied to within 22-19, but a lay-up and 2 free throws by Brown, and a 3-point bomb and a lay-up by RaSean McKoy kept the Eagles ahead 31-23 at intermission.
Baker led the Northside scoring with 16 points, and senior Runel Smith followed with 13 points.
The Eagles will travel to Midway Monday night.
Northside 7 16 13 16 – 52
East Bladen 14 17 3 4 – 38
NORTHSIDE (52) – Quincy Martin 8, Mark Seiuli 2, Ya’Ciaan Baker 16, Aaron Oates 8, Chris Vlassis 5, Runel Smith 13.
EAST BLADEN (38) – Charles Brown 11, Donevin Keith, Tayshaun Berkeley 3, RaSean McKoy 5, Zach Meares, Javant McDowell 8, Lefrederick Wooten, Malcolm Bolden, Juwan Baldwin 5, Jacob Priest 6.
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