St. Pauls closed the game with a 21-9 fourth-quarter spurt that rallied the Bulldogs to a 63-53 non-conference boys basketball victory over the visiting East Bladen Eagles.
East Bladen took a 43-42 lead into the final quarter and matched baskets until a 10-0 Bulldog run put the game away. “We kept fighting, but we didn’t run our offense there at the end,” said Eagle Coach Ken Cross.
Junior Eian Hines fired in 6 of his 9 points in the first quarter, and junior Denzel Johnson buried a 3-point shot as East Bladen battled the Bulldogs to a 15-15 tie at the quarter break.
Senior Jermaine Robinson pumped in 6 points in the second quarter to keep the Eagles within 27-25 at halftime.
Robinson bombed the nets with a pair of 3-point shots and added another basket and a free throw in the third period as the Eagles edged in front 43-42. Robinson topped the East Bladen scoring with 17 points.
Junior Ethan Hines tossed in 10 points for East Bladen, and senior teammate Chris Cromartie connected on 5 of 7 free throws and finished with 7 points.
Guard Dante Burden poured in a game-high 23 points for the Bulldogs. Teammate Zeke Sansbury recorded a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds, and Deonte Bridges chipped in with 10 points.
The Bulldogs who are coached by Dublin native and West Bladen grad Matt Hill remained unbeaten at 5-0.
East Bladen, now 1-2, will travel to Wilmington Ashley Tuesday night.
East Bladen (53) –Denzel Johnson 3, Jermaine Robinson 17, Demetrius Wooten, Dayvon Powell 3, Ethan Hines 10, Eian Hines 9, Sincere Smith 2, Derrick Burney, Chris Cromartie 7, Ty McMillian 2, Trevor Lloyd, Adonis Avery.
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