ELIZABETHTOWN – Red Springs made two free throws with 3.8 seconds left to edge East Bladen 55-53 Friday night in Three Rivers Conference boys basketball action.
With the score knotted 53-53, the Eagles missed a lay-up with 14 seconds remaining, before the Red Devils gained possession and took the lead at the foulline. An Eagle attempt to win at the buzzer failed.
“We got a good shot at the end, but Adonis’ (Avery) 3-pointer came up short,” said Eagle Coach Kenzil McCall.
Freshman center Javant McDowell dropped in a trio of early baskets for the Eagles. Guard Messiah Leach sank a basket and 2 free throws, senior Sincere Smith banged in a basket and a free throw, and senior Adonis Avery added a basket as East Bladen built a 15-10 lead.
Nichorie West rallied the Red Devils with 4 first quarter points, then fired in a trio of second quarter baskets plus a 3-point shot to vault Red Springs ahead 31-28.
Avery knocked down a pair of 3-point shots for East in the second quarter. Smith popped in a basket and 2 free throws, and McDowell powered in a basket to keep the Eagles within three.
Smith connected on 4 of 6 foul shots in the third quarter, and Avery and junior Keshaun Davis pumped in baskets as the Eagles tied the game 37-37 at the quarter break.
Guard Caleel Mitchell buried a 3-point shot and hit 3 free throws for the Red Devils in the final quarter. West made a basket and 3 free throws in the period, and Monte Wilkerson netted 2 free throws and a basket.
Avery threw in a pair of baskets and 3 free throws for East Bladen in the final period. Smith flipped in 2 baskets and 2 free throws in the quarter, and Leach drained a 3-point shot.
Smith and Avery shared scoring honors for the Eagles with 17 points each. McDowell followed with 9 points, and Leach totaled 7 points.
Wilkerson topped the Red Springs scoring with 17 points, Mitchell followed with 12 points, and West added 11 points.
The Eagles connected on only 16 of 28 free throws, while Red Springs made 14 of 19 foul shots.
East Bladen will visit West Columbus Thursday after the exam break.
EAST BLADEN (53) – Adonis Avery 17, Byron Bowen, Keshaun Davis 3, Messiah Leach 7, Pierce Melvin, Javant McDowell 9, Sincere Smith 17, Raeshoid Pone.
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