03/28/2024
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East Bladen High SchoolNCHSAA Class 2-A Girls Play-offs
East Bladen 56, Goldsboro 26

Unbeaten East Bladen walloped Goldsboro with a 22-3 third quarter blitz and advanced to the NCHSAA Class 2-A Girls Sectional Final with a 56-26 victory Monday night.

Coach Patty Evers’ Lady Eagles improved to 26-0 on the season and will host Kinston Tuesday night in a game that will decide a berth in the Eastern Regional Semi-Finals.

The Lady Eagles grabbed the early lead as juniors Christiana Cromartie and Abby Ward nailed 16-foot jumpers. A free throw by senior Imani Turner-Dobson put East up 5-1.

Two baskets and 3 free throws by Cougar star Tyona Moses rallied Goldsboro in front 8-5. East senior Abbey Norris powered in a follow shot, but two more Moses free throws put the Lady Cougars ahead 10-7 at the quarter break.

Goldsboro’s Destini Cromartie began the second period with 15-foot jumper that put the Lady Cougars ahead 12-7.

East Bladen’s Lacey Suggs raced the length of the floor for a transition lay-up, and Christiana Cromartie canned 2 free throws to trim the margin to 12-11.

Goldsboro star Tyona Moses put back a rebound, but Norris drilled a 3-pointer from the corner to tie the game, and a Suggs lay-up edged the Lady Eagles in front 16-14.

Moses tied the game with a baseline jumper, but Ward drained a 3-pointer from the right wing to put East ahead to stay at 19-16. Ward bombed in a 3-pointer from the top of the key to put the Lady Eagles ahead 22-16 at halftime.

Turner-Dobson started the second half with a rebound basket, then turned a Norris assist into a lay-up. Ward nailed another 3-point shot to boost the lead to 29-16.

Destini Cromartie flipped in a floater for Goldsboro, but Christiana Cromartie fired in a 17-footer for East. Suggs sprinted ahead for another transition lay-up and a 33-18 lead.

A Christiana Cromartie assist produced another Turner-Dobson lay-up. Ward buried another 3-point shot, and Suggs closed out the quarter with two lay-ups and two free throws to grow the lead to 44-19.

Moses reeled off 5 straight points to start the final period, but Ward and Suggs flipped in short floaters, and Ward added 2 free throws for a 50-24 lead.

Michelle Page drove for a pair of lay-ups for East, and Emily Scott arched in a spectacular runner from the baseline to close out the scoring.

“I saw a different team tonight from the one that played Saturday,” said Coach Evers. “Our defense was outstanding and the girls played really hard.”

Suggs posted a team-high 17 points and added 6 rebounds and 5 steals. Ward followed with 15 points, 4 steals and 3 assists.

Turner-Dobson scored 7 points, blocked 6 shots and grabbed 11 rebounds. Cromartie finished with 6 points and 2 assists, and Norris contributed 5 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists.

“When all five girls show up to play, we are a really good team,” said Coach Evers.

Moses led all scorers with 19 points for Goldsboro and also pulled down 7 rebounds. The Lady Cougars finished their season with a 12-8 record.

EB (56) – Abby Ward 15, Lexie Mendell, Michelle Page 4, Lacey Suggs 17, Miller Heustess, Christiana Cromartie 6, Abbey  Norris 5, Imani Turner-Dobson 7, Emily Scott 2, Shardajah Brown, Lexi Dawson.

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