ELIZABETHTOWN – Juniors Mya McDonald and Alexus Mitchell combined for 31 points Wednesday to lead East Bladen to a 47-33 non-conference girls basketball victory over West Bladen on Senior Night.
McDonald filled up the rims with 4 baskets and a free throw in the opening quarter, and Mitchell nailed a 3-ball and 2 free throws. Sophomores Anna Grey Heustess and Maegan Burney dropped in baskets as the Lady Eagles built an 18-10 lead.
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Photos by Kenneth Armstrong
Junior Hannah Pait popped in 2 baskets, and freshman Brooke Singletary and sophomores Makayla Wright and Rylee Chadwick tossed in a basket each for West Bladen in the period.
Freshman Megan Pait buried a 3-point shot, and Wright and Chadwick pumped in baskets for the Lady Knights in the 2nd quarter. Mitchell and Heustess flipped in baskets, and McDonald and Burney netted a free throw each to keep East on top 24-17 at halftime.
McDonald and Mitchell sparked a 13-5 Lady Eagle spurt in the 3rd period with 2 baskets each. Burney sank 2 free throws and a basket, and Heustess added a free throw as the lead grew to 37-22.
Megan Pait drained another 3-pointer, and Hannah Pait worked the paint for a bucket for West Bladen in the quarter.
Mitchell threw in 2 baskets and 2 free throws in the 4th quarter for East. Senior Katie Evans closed out the Lady Eagle scoring with a basket and 2 free throws.
Chadwick who topped the West Bladen scoring with 10 points fired in 3 baskets in the final period. Wright bombed in a 3-pointer and another basket in the quarter and finished with 9 points. Megan Pait and Hannah Pait finished with 6 points each for the Lady Knights.
Mitchell led East Bladen with 17 points and collected 4 steals. McDonald racked up 14 points, 4 rebounds, 5 steals and 2 assists, Heustess filled up the stat sheet with 5 points, 5 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 blocked shots. Burney totaled 7 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals. Evans contributed 4 points, 3 assists and 4 steals.
“Brian’s teams always play great defense,” said East Bladen Coach Patty Evers. “We started slow but then switched to our full-court pressure defense to generate some offense. Playing in a quiet gym against West Bladen is strange, and you have to create your own intensity.”
“Our group is so young, but I thought we played well,” said West Bladen Coach Brian McCleney. “I think we got caught up in the first half with who we were playing, but we played better after that. As long as the girls play hard that’s all you can ask.”
Lady Eagle seniors honored in ceremonies after the game included Katie Evans, Lilly Lin, Sara Gargala and Aaniyah Jackson.
East Bladen improves to 6-1 overall and will travel to Fairmont Friday. West Bladen, now 4-2 overall, will visit Whiteville Friday.
West Bladen 10 7 5 11 – 33
East Bladen 18 6 13 10 – 47
WB (33) – Lainey Autry, Megan Pait 6, Mallory Bryan, Makayla Wright 9, Azillyah McDonald, Rylee Chadwick 10, Kirsten Warwick, Brooke Singletary 2, Hannah Pait 6, Olivia McCarty, Anniyah Phillips.
EB (47) – Katie Evans 4, Lilly Lin, Mya McDonald 14, Alexus Mitchell 17, AnnaGrey Heustess 5, Karli Priest, Maegan Burney 7, Sara Gargala, Zoe Smith, Aaniyah Jackson, Makayla Dixon.
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