ELIZABETHTOWN – Sophomore guard Iveonna “NeNe” Ward sparked a 24-5 1st quarter surge that propelled East Bladen’s Lady Eagles to a 61-29 non-conference girls’ basketball victory over East Columbus in the season opener for both teams.
Ward scored 10 of her 14 points and came up with 4 of her 9 steals as the Lady Eagles forced 12 Lady Gator turnovers in the period. She also grabbed 7 rebounds in the game. Sophomore Laila Smith and junior Zoe Smith tallied 5 points each in the quarter.
Ward converted a steal into a lay-up then stole the ball again and sank a 3-point shot to get the East Bladen blitz rolling. Senior AnnaGrey Heustess nailed a corner 3-ball, and Zoe Smith canned another 3-ball from the wing. Laila Smith powered in a follow shot and a lay-up, Ward tossed in 2 foul shots, and Zoe Smith netted a lay-up, before Ward drained a 3-point shot to end the quarter with the 24-5 lead.
“I am excited,” said Lady Eagle Coach Patty Evers. “We asked them to play really good defense and push the ball and that is what they did. I am not worried about the offense this early. This was a good team win.”
Laila Smith threw in a pair of lay-ups, and Zoe Smith put back a rebound to keep East Bladen up 32-10 at halftime. Laila Smith bombed in a 3-ball, flipped in an 8-footer and scored on a follow in the 3rd period. Senior Maegan Burney hit 2 free throws, and senior Karli Priest beat the buzzer with a 3-point shot as the lead grew to 44-23.
Heustess delivered a pair of 3-point baskets in the final period. Ward turned a pair of steals into lay-ups, and Burney and sophomore Martha Simmons added lay-ups.
Laila Smith topped the East Bladen scoring with 17 points and 9 rebounds. Heustess finished with 9 points and 4 rebounds. Zoe Smith followed with 8 points, and Burney added 6 points and 5 steals. Priest grabbed 5 rebounds.
“I am looking forward to this season,” continued Evers. “This is a pleasant group, they are smart, and they like each other. I am happy with the team chemistry.”
Center Chynna Patrick led the Lady Gators with 11 points, and Malayah Hines scored 8 points.
East Bladen will travel to South Columbus Tuesday night.
East Columbus 5 5 13 6 – 29
East Bladen 24 8 12 17 – 61
EAST COLUMBUS (29) – Malayah Hines 8, Malia Graham 4, Destiny Mitchell 3, Kaley Mitchell 3, Chynna Patrick 11, Zaria Swindell, Shamiah Johnson, BB Vereen, Alaya White, Rylie Graham.
EAST BLADEN (61) – Iveonna “NeNe” Ward 14, Martha Simmons 2, Aerial Cromartie 2, Cabria Baldwin, AnnaGrey Heustess 9, Karli Priest 3, Zoe Smith 8, Maegan Burney 6, Laila Smith 17, Brianna Phillips, Niyha Wooten.
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