WHITEVILLE – Senior Maya McDonald posted a double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds and sparked a 15-0 East Bladen run that propelled the Lady Eagles to a 57-35 non-conference girls’ basketball victory over Whiteville Friday night.
The Lady Eagles held a narrow 26-24 halftime lead when McDonald opened the 2nd half with a driving lay-up then stole the ball and raced for another lay-up. Junior Maegan Burney spun to the basket and flipped a lay-up under the arm of the defender to boost the lead to 32-24.
Burney turned an assist from McDonald into another lay-up then nailed a 3-point shot from the left corner. Freshman Iveonna Ward sank 2 free throws then dished a pass Burney for another lay-up and a 41-24 lead.
“We needed to come out and get stops and then get lay-ups,” said East Coach Patty Evers. “And that is what we did. The defense in the second half produced baskets for us.”
Junior AnnaGrey Heustess dropped in a lay-up off of another McDonald assist. McDonald tossed in another lay-up off of an in-bounds pass from senior Alexus Mitchell. Heustess stole the ball and sprinted for a lay-up that kept the East lead at 47-31 at the quarter break.
Burney started the final period with a pair of lay-ups off of assists from Heustess and McDonald. Mitchell drove for a lay-up, McDonald netted a free throw and junior Karli Priest tossed in 2 free throws to close out the scoring.
Besides her double-double, McDonald also collected 5 steals and 5 assists. Burney pumped in 17 points, and Heustess contributed 7 points, 7 rebounds and 4 blocked shots. Mitchell was hampered by 1st half foul trouble but still tallied 6 points, 3 assists and 3 steals. Ward added 6 steals and 6 rebounds.
McDonald dashed for a lay-up off of the opening tap then converted an assist from Mitchell into a lay-up. Burney dropped in a pair of transition lay-ups, and McDonald made 2 free throws then powered in a lay-up for a 12-6 lead. Junior Mauricia Bennett rallied Whiteville to within 13-12 with a pair of lay-ups.
Mitchell cashed in 2 free throws then turned a McDonald assist into a lay-up that grew the lead to 17-12. Bennett answered with a basket and a free throw, and baskets from Marnasia Smith and Mykelliona Shipman vaulted Whiteville in front 19-18.
Freshman Laila Smith threw in a 4-foot runner, and Heustess powered in a rebound than banked in a turn-around. McDonald sent a feed to Burney for a lay-up and a 26-22 lead. Whiteville freshman Elayzia Dawson pulled up for a 4-footer that trimmed the margin to 26-24.
“It was a good game. Both teams played hard,” said Evers. “Free throws kept us in it in the first half.”
Senior Trinity Smith led Whiteville with 10 points, Marnasia Smith followed with 8 points.
The Lady Eagles remained unbeaten at 7-0 and will be idle until they host South Columbus Friday.
East Bladen 13 13 21 10 – 57
Whiteville 12 12 7 4 – 35
EAST BLADEN (57) – Iveonna Ward 3, Martha Simmons, Maya McDonald 19, Alexus Mitchell 6, AnnaGrey Heustess 7, Karli Priest 2, Zoe Smith, Maegan Burney 17, Laila Smith 3, Brianna Phillips.
WHITEVILLE (35) – Trinity Smith 10, Mauricia Bennett 7, Marnasia Smith 8, Mykelliona Shipman 6, Teonna Hall, Aziya Barr, Serenity Harvey 2, Elayzia Dawson 2.
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