By Sonny Jones
The records show it’s important. The rivalry makes it more so.
The West Bladen basketball teams make the short drive down N.C. 87 Bypass tonight to play East Bladen inside the Eagles Nest. If you’re planning on attending, don’t be late.
The junior varsity boys game tips at 4:30 p.m. followed by the varsity girls about 6 p.m. and the varsity boys about 7:30 p.m.
The combined records of the four varsity teams is 37-8, a winning percentage of .822. Can’t remember a time when all four have been so successful at the same time. It’s great to see.
For the record, the East Bladen boys are 10-1, West Bladen boys are 10-3, East Bladen girls are 9-2 and West Bladen girls are 8-2. The East Bladen teams are 2-0 in Southeastern Athletic Conference game and the West Bladen teams are 1-0.
The West Bladen boys have won 25 of the past 38 meetings dating to 2006. However, East Bladen has won the last seven, according to MaxPreps. During that span, 16 games have been decided by five points or less and 22 games have been decided by 10 points or less, including last season when the Eagles won 50-45 and 51-48.
The Knights are returning to their winning ways after a bit of tough stretch. West Bladen went 18-65 over a four-year period before rebounding with a 12-14 record last season. Sophomore Hezekiah Adams and freshman Jackson Pait have helped guide the team back to their winning ways of the mid-2010s when there were 20-win seasons. Chase Williams is a force inside.
For East Bladen, the long-range shooting abilities of Malcolm Bolden and Jacob Nixon combined with the strong inside play of Zamar Lewis make the team tough to defend. The Eagles have outscored their opponents by an average of 16 points per game.
East Bladen has allowed 42 points per game and West Bladen has allowed 45 points per game. On offense, the Eagles have averaged 58 points per game and the Knights 51 points game.
It adds up to what could become an instant classic tonight.
The series between the girls teams hasn’t been competitive. East Bladen has won 38 of the past 39 meetings dating to 2007. West Bladen’s lone win during that stretch came in 2013 when Haley Cox and Taylor Stephens each scored 13 points in a 52-41 victory. Only eight of the past 39 meetings have been closer than 10 points or less.
The East Bladen girls have been a dominant force in the state. Not counting the COVID-restricted season, the Eagles have won at least 20 games 10 straight seasons. There’s been 30-win seasons and state championship appearances along the way as Coach Patty Evers has racked up more than 500 wins during her time at East Bladen and the former Tar Heel High School.
West Bladen had its 8-game win streak snapped Tuesday at Whiteville, but the Knights battle as shown by their 67-66 win against East Columbus earlier this season, rallying from 15 points down in the fourth quarter after opening the season a week earlier losing to the Gators by 24 points. Seniors Lainey Autry and Rylee Chadwick give the Knights a solid one-two punch.
Sophomore Lalia Smith leads the Eagles, averaging 20.1 points and 9.2 rebounds per game. Maegan Burney (11.6 points per game), AnnaGrey Heustess and Karli Priest bring senior leadership to a program that is used to winning.
Whatever the results tonight, Bladen County high school basketball fans are the winners with four competitive teams. Hope to see you there.
• For the record, East Bladen and West Bladen should NOT be playing each other now. It should be the last game of the first round of conference play and the last game of the regular season. Just like Clinton and Midway should play the last game of the season and a combination of St. Pauls, Fairmont and Red Springs should play the last game of the season.
It won’t be possible next season with East Bladen moving to the Waccamaw Conference and West Bladen remaining in the Southeastern Conference, but rivalries are meant to be played at the end of the season.
Rant over.
TODAY IN SPORTS HISTORY
• 2014 — Jameis Winston throws a 13-yard touchdown pass to Kelvin Benjamin with 13 seconds left and No. 1 Florida State beat No. 2 Auburn 34-31 to win the last BCS national championship game.
POTATO PICKS TO WATCH TODAY
• PGA: Tournament of Champions, 6 p.m., GOLF
• NBA: Brooklyn at New Orleans, 7:45 p.m., ESPN
• NBA: Miami at Phoenix, 10:05 p.m., ESPN
• LACROSSE: Philadelphia at Las Vegas, ESPNEWS
Sonny Jones can be reached at wibbyj@gmail.com.
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