ELIZABETHTOWN – Junior Ja’Tyra Moore-Peterson poured in 22 points and a 13-0 second-quarter blitz propelled East Bladen to a 52-30 Three Rivers Conference girls basketball victory over West Columbus Tuesday night.
Moore-Peterson scored in transition, and sophomore Patience Ward banked in a runner to put the Lady Eagles up 4-0 early. West Columbus senior Annela Tiffany worked the paint for a pair of baskets that tied the game 4-4.
A pair of Ward rebound baskets vaulted East Bladen into an 8-4 lead, but Tah’nijah McKoy popped in a 12-footer to keep West within 8-6 at the 3:15 mark.
Junior Erica McKoy sank a free throw, Ward banked in a 4-footer, and Moore-Peterson muscled in a lay-up for a 13-6 East lead. Erica McKoy drilled a 16-footer, and Moore-Peterson nailed a corner jumper to pad the lead to 17-10 at the quarter break.
Ward turned a steal into a lay-in, Erica McKoy connected from 14 feet, and Moore-Peterson knocked down a 12-footer as the Lady Eagle lead grew to 23-11.
Junior Anna Kate White tossed in 2 free throws, and Moore-Peterson hit one for a 26-13 East lead. Tiffany’s lay-up pulled West Columbus to within 26-15 with 1:45 on the first-half clock.
Ward cashed in 2 free throws, and Erica McKoy powered in a lay-up. Junior Ashley Hardin nailed a 3-point shot from the wing, before Moore-Peterson bombed in a pair of 3-point shots to cap the 13-0 blitz and push the East Bladen halftime lead to 39-15.
The East Bladen attack slowed down in the third period as the Lady Vikings outscored East 8-6. Erica McKoy and senior Shardajah Brown made 2 free throws each, and Moore-Peterson buried a 17-footer to keep the Lady Eagles up 45-23.
Hardin flipped in a running hook shot, and Moore-Peterson buried a 3-point shot and a 16-footer to close out the East Bladen scoring.
Moore-Peterson collected 7 rebounds and 3 assists. Erica McKoy filled the stat sheet with 11 points, 8 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists. Ward posted a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds to go with 4 steals and 3 assists.
“I thought Erica played outstanding,” said Lady Eagle Coach Patty Evers. “She had her most complete game of the year. Ja’Tyra was able to make her shots. I thought as a team we were able to make our shots and play good defense.”
Hardin contributed 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals for the winners, and Brown grabbed 5 rebounds.
Tiffany pumped in 16 points for West Columbus, and Tah’nijah McKoy totaled 7 points.
East Bladen improves to 3-1 in league play and 5-1 overall and will host Fairmont Friday night.
EB (52) – Katie Evans, Erica McKoy 11, Kaley Smith, Izzy Smith, Shardajah Brown 2, Anna Kate White 2, Abbie Cross 2, Kabarah Moore, Patience Ward 10, Ashley Hardin 5, Ja’Tyra Moore-Peterson 22, Lorna Mendell.
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