ROWLAND – Guards Darrell Banks and Freddy Wooten combined for 47 points Tuesday night but their East Bladen Eagles were overcome by a 21-point free throw deficit and dropped a 69-68 Three Rivers Conference boys basketball decision to South Robeson.
Six-four Cameron Werrell dropped in the go-ahead lay-up for a 67-66 Mustang lead with 8 seconds left then added a pair of free throws 3 seconds later. Werrell connected on 16 of 21 free throws and led South with 31 points. Teammate Daniel Murray made 7 of 8 free throws and finished with 21 points.
For the game the Mustangs made 30 of 41 free throws, while the Eagles converted 9 of their 13 attempts at the line. Two Eagle frontcourt starters – center Javant McDowell and forward Bryon Bowen – both fouled out.
Werrell knocked down a 3-point bomb and 3 free throws to spark the Mustangs to a 15-12 first quarter lead. Banks and senior Keshaun Davis threw in 2 baskets each to keep East close. Wooten canned 2 free throws, and junior Tyshawn Berkeley added a basket.
Banks buried a 3-point shot, another basket and 2 free throws in the second period. Wooten popped in a basket and a free throw, and Davis and senior Robbie Cooley pumped in a basket each to keep the Eagles within 29-26 at halftime.
Wooten fired in a trio of 3-point bombs, 2 baskets and 2 free throws to spark a 33-point Eagle blitz in the third quarter. Banks nailed a pair of 3-point shots, a pair of 2-point baskets and a free throw in the period. Davis pumped in a pair of baskets and a free throw, and Berkeley tacked on a basket as East took a 57-48 lead.
Baskets from senior Greyson Heustess and McDowell kept the Eagles ahead at 63-56. South pulled to within 63-60 before Banks knocked down another 3-pointer for a 66-60 East lead with 2 minutes left.
Banks topped the Eagle scoring list with 27 points, and Wooten finished with 20 points. Davis tallied 11 points.
East Bladen will travel to county rival West Bladen Friday night.
East Bladen 12 14 33 9 – 68
South Robeson 15 14 19 21 – 69
EAST BLADEN (38) – Keshaun Davis 11, Greyson Heustess 2, Bryon Bowen, Javant McDowell 2, Juwan Baldwin, Freddy Wooten 20, Tyshawn Berkeley 4, Darrell Banks 27, Robbie Cooley 2.
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