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ELIZABETHTOWN – East Bladen’s defense shutdown North Brunswick over the final three quarters as the Lady Eagles claimed a 42-27 girls basketball victory in the final game of the East Bladen Holiday Classic.
The Lady Eagles trailed 14-10 after one period but outscored North 32-13 over the final 24 minutes. “We played good defense, particularly in the second half,” said East Bladen Coach Patty Evers.
Junior Ja’Tyra Moore-Peterson sank four free throws, and senior Shardajah Brown muscled in a rebound to keep East even 6-6. Moore-Peterson pulled up for a 16-footer, and sophmore Patience Ward spun to the basket for a bank shot that kept East within four at the break.
Sophmore Lydia Bradshaw pumped in all 12 of her points in the first period, bombing in a pair of 3-point shots and flipping in a baseline runner to give North Brunswick the 14-10 lead at the quarter break.
Ward stole the ball and raced for a lay-up to start the second period. Junior Erica McKoy drilled a 17-footer from the key, Moore-Peterson hit a free throw, and Brown put back a rebound. Junior Anna Kate White stole the ball and pitched ahead to McKoy for a lay-up and a 19-14 East lead.
Moore-Peterson drained a 3-point shot, and McKoy knocked down a 14-footer to give the Lady Eagles a 24-16 lead at halftime.
White’s follow shot kept East up 26-18, before lay-ups by Cailen Goodman and Angel Johnson pulled the Lady Scorpions to within 26-22. Moore-Peterson dished a pass to McKoy for a lay-up then stole the ball and dashed for a lay-up and a 30-23 East lead at the quarter break.
Goodman’s follow shot sliced the margin to 30-25 to begin the fourth quarter, but Brown buried a pair of 3-point shots to ignite a 12-0 Lady Eagle spurt. Ward canned two free throws, and Moore-Peterson and White added one free throw each. McKoy pumped in a 15-footer for a 42-25 East lead.
Moore-Peterson just missed a double-double with 13 points, 9 rebounds and 6 steals. Brown finished with 10 points and 6 rebounds. McKoy scored 10 points and had 3 steals. Ward added 6 points and 9 rebounds. Sophmore Lorna Mendell grabbed 8 rebounds, and White snared 5 rebounds.
“We got some offense from Shar and Ja’Tyra,” said Coach Evers. “It is good to get a win before the Christmas break. We need some rest, but I am proud of the team.”
The Lady Eagles improved to 9-1 on the season and will return to action on Jan. 2 when they host East Columbus.
EAST BLADEN (42) – Katie Evans, Erica McKoy 10, Kaley Smith, Izzy Smith, Shardajah Brown 10, Anna Kate White 3, Abbie Cross, Kabarah Moore, Patience Ward 6, Ja’Tyra Moore-Peterson 13, Lorna Mendell.
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