ELIZABETHTOWN – Junior Mya McDonald poured in 18 of her game-high 24 points in the 2nd half to key a 40-22 second-half surge that propelled East Bladen to a 58-48 victory over Whiteville Tuesday night in the girls’ basketball opener for both teams.
Sophomore Maegan Burney started the 2nd half with a lay-up then sent an assist to sophomore AnnaGrey Heustess for a lay-up that sliced Whiteville’s 26-18 halftime lead to 26-22.
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Photos by Kenneth Armstrong
McDonald drove for a trio of lay-ups – one off of a steal and one off of an assist from junior Alexus Mitchell. Heustess canned a free throw then assisted on another McDonald lay-up. Mitchell netted 2 free throws as East grew a 33-28 lead.
A trio of McDonald free throws pushed the lead to 36-30, and Burney beat the 3rd quarter buzzer with a follow shot that kept the Lady Eagles in front 38-34.
Heustess began the final period with a rebound basket, and Mitchell drove for a pair of lay-ups and a 44-40 lead. Whiteville’s Emily Hewett sliced the margin to 44-43 with a 3-ball, but Heustess answered with a corner jumper, and Mitchell drove for a lay-up and a 48-43 lead.
McDonald converted a Mitchell assist into a lay-up then flipped in a 6-foot runner and tacked on a free throw. Two more McDonald free throws stretched the lead to 55-45. A pair of Heustess free throws and one from senior Sara Gargala maintained the 10-point margin.
“We made some adjustments and changed our defense at halftime,” said Lady Eagle Coach Patty Evers. “The girls have worked hard at practice. I am proud of our stamina playing with the masks on, and the way we fought hard tonight. Whiteville is a good team.”
McDonald also collected 5 steals, 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Mitchell tallied 12 points, and Heustess racked up 11 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Burney finished with 8 points and 5 rebounds. Senior Katie Evans grabbed 4 rebounds.
Baskets by Heustess and McDonald accounted for the only East points as Whiteville forged a 10-4 1st quarter lead. Burney turned passes from Heustess and McDonald into lay-ups as the Lady Eagles battled back from a 14-5 deficit. Mitchell drained a corner 3-ball, and another McDonald lay-up closed the gap to 18-14.
Gargala banked in a basket off of a Heustess assist, and McDonald converted a Whiteville turnover into a lay-up that cut the lead to 21-18. A Trinity Smith 3-pointer padded the lead to 26-18 at intermission.
“We were very nervous to start the game,” continued Evers. “I am proud of the way we responded but we have got to work on rebounding.”
Marnasia Smith led Whiteville with 16 points, and Trinity Smith followed with 15 points.
The Lady Eagles will travel to West Columbus for a 4:30 game Wednesday.
Whiteville 10 16 12 10 – 48
East Bladen 4 14 20 20 – 58
Whiteville (48) – Marnasia Smith 16, Trinity Smith 15, Mauricia Benette 8, Emily Hewitt 3, I’Reona Johnson 6.
East Bladen (58) – Katie Evans, Lily Lin, Mya McDonald 24, Alexus Mitchell 12, AnnaGrey Heustess 11, Karli Priest, Maegan Burney 8, Sara Gargala 3, Aaniyah Jackson, Zoe Smith, Makayla Dixon.
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