East Bladen’s suffocating defense was the story Wednesday night as East Bladen’s Lady Eagles remained undefeated with a 52-5 Four County Conference victory over visiting West Bladen.
“I was very impressed with our defense tonight,” said East Bladen Coach Patty Evers. “But I am totally surprised by that score. We’re a great defensive team, and when we hit our shots, we are an even better defensive team.”
Junior Lacey Suggs turned a baseline drive into a 3-point play. Senior Abbey Norris canned a 15-footer, and Suggs hit another free throw for an early 6-0 East Bladen lead.
Sophmore Logan Autry sank a foul shot, and senior guard Miriam Mendoza banked in a runner to pull the Lady Knights to with 6-3.
Suggs dropped in a transition lay-up off of a feed from junior Miller Heustess, then made 2 foul shots to grow the East lead to 10-3.
Senior Delasia Richardson grabbed a deflected pass and muscled in a lay-up to pull West within 10-5 with 1:19 remaining in the opening quarter.
Senior Imani Turner-Dobson put back a rebound to give East Bladen a 12-5 lead at the quarter break.
Junior Abbey Ward opened the second period with a 3-point basket, and junior Christiana Cromartie connected from the baseline. After a Suggs’ free throw, Norris threw in a rebound bucket, and Cromartie drove for a lay-up.
Sophmore Emily Scott converted a Norris assist into a short basket, then closed the half with a 16-foot jumper that upped the count to 26-5 at halftime.
Cromartie found Turner-Dobson inside for a lay-up to begin the third period. Cromartie drilled a 15-footer, and Turner-Dobson and Ward made 2 foul shots each.
A Suggs’ assist produced a Cromartie lay-up, and Cromartie found Turner-Dobson inside for a lay-up. A Scott assist led to a Heustess lay-up, and Shardajah Brown nailed a corner jumper to stretch the margin to 42-5.
Brown drained a 3-point shot and scored 5 of her 7 points in the final quarter.
Suggs led the Lady Eagles with 12 points, 9 rebounds, 6 steals and 3 assists. Cromartie finished with 9 points, 4 rebounds, 5 blocked shots and 3 assists.
Turner-Dobson totaled 8 points and 3 blocked shots, and Ward collected 5 points, 7 steals and 3 assists. Norris pulled down 14 rebounds to lead both teams, and Heustess contributed 3 assists.
Mendoza led the Lady Knights with 5 rebounds and 3 steals. Autry grabbed 4 rebounds, and sophomore Laikyn Pait had 3 rebounds and 2 steals.
The Lady Eagles, now 7-0 in the league and 17-0 overall, travel to Midway Friday night. West Bladen, now 4-2 in league play and 7-8 overall, will be at Union Friday night.
WB (5) – Miriam Mendoza 2, Breanna Jackson, Alanna Ludlum, Akira Grimes, Delasia Richardson 2, Jenna Dove, Tierra McKoy, Kaylee Stevens, Alex Perry, Evelin Ortiz, Logan Autry 1, Laikyn Pait.
EB (52) – Abby Ward 5, Lexie Mendell, Lacey Suggs 12, Miller Heustess 2, Christiana Cromartie 9, Abbey Norris 4, Shardajah Brown 7, Imani Turner-Dobson 8, Emily Scott 5.
About Author
