ELIZABETHTOWN – West Columbus opened the second half with a 22-3 blitz and went on to capture a 67-47 Three Rivers Conference boys basketball victory over East Bladen Tuesday night.
The Eagles had stayed within 29-25 of the taller, undefeated Vikings in the first half, but the third quarter explosion broke the game open. Senior Dejour Smith threw in 8 of his 16 points for the West in the third period.
“That third quarter got us,” said Eagle Coach Kenzil McCall. “We came out a little flat and you can’t win like that. We have to come out with more fire.”
Eagle senior Sincere Smith staked the Eagles to an early 3-0 lead with a 3-point bomb, but Viking star Jake Brownlee worked inside for a pair of 3-point plays as West Columbus ran off 11 straight points.
Sincere Smith muscled in a follow and sank 2 free throws, and teammate Messiah Leach buried a 3-point shot from the corner and added a lay-up as the Eagles leaped back ahead 12-11.
Two baskets each from Dejour Smith and Deontay Bromell rallied the visitors to a 19-12 lead at the quarter break.
Junior Adonis Avery drove for a lay-up, and Deondre Newkirk and Sincere Smith hit free throws for the Eagles, but Brownlee bombed in a pair of 3-point shots for a 26-15 West Columbus lead.
Avery rallied the Eagles with a pair of baskets then delivered a 3-point shot from the right corner. Keshaun Davis added a basket as East Bladen closed the gap to 29-25 at halftime.
“I was pleased with our energy in the first half,” said Coach McCall. “It was a lot better than it was Friday night.”
After the Viking 22-3 run pushed the margin to 51-28. Sincere Smith and Avery made 2 free throws each to trim the deficit to 51-32 at the quarter break.
Avery drove for a lay-up and cashed in four free throws in the final quarter to finish with 18 points for the Eagles. Sincere Smith added a basket and posted a double-double of 14 points and 11 rebounds for East.
Davis and Byron Bowen scored lay-ups in the final period for East, and junior Pierce Melvin connected on a 3-point shot for the final margin.
Brownlee dunked in a follow shot in the final minute and topped the Viking scoring with 23 points. Winston Mason and Bromell finished with 11 points each for West.
“We have just got to keep fighting and play hard,” said Coach McCall. The Eagles host North Brunswick at 6 p.m. Wednesday.
East Bladen (47) –Adonis Avery 18, Byron Bowen 2, Robert Cooley, Keshaun Davis 4, Zaire Turner-Dotson, Messiah Leach 5, Javant McDowell, Pierce Melvin 3, Deondre Newkirk 1, Sincere Smith 14, Anthony Wooten.
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