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By Sonny Jones

ELIZABETHTOWN — NeNe Ward couldn’t be stopped Thursday night.

The junior guard poured in 30 points as East Bladen remained unbeaten with a solid 68-55 victory against Topsail, handing the Pirates their first loss in the non-conference girls’ basketball game played on Patty Evers Court.

With offensive running mate Lalia Smith sitting out the first half because of a coach’s decision, Ward helped the Eagles take the lead for good late in the first quarter.

Ward’s basket and later a free throw gave East Bladen a 15-13 lead with 1:40 remaining in the first quarter. A free throw by Niyah Wooten sandwiched between two free throws by Zoe Smith gave the Eagles an 18-13 advantage. Ward accounted for 11 points.

Ariel Cromartie, who finished with 12 points, nailed a 3-pointer for East Bladen’s first points of the second quarter. A pair of Ward baskets staked the Eagles to a 25-15 lead within the first two minutes of the period. East Bladen led 32-26 at intermission.

As she did in the first quarter, Ward netted 11 points in the third quarter while Lalia Smith came off the bench to add seven as East Bladen opened a 52-43 lead.

A free throw and basket by Cromartie along with a bucket by Zoe Smith to open the fourth quarter gave East Bladen a 57-43 lead. Topsail never came closer than 11 points the rest of the game.

Rhianna Garmendiz scored 16 points and Riley Trimble had 13 to lead Topsail (3-1).

East Bladen (3-0) is scheduled to play at Purnell Swett on Friday.

Topsail 13 13 17 12 — 55
East Bladen 18 14 20 16 — 68

Topsail (55) — Reed Garfano 4, Malory Oakley 2, Riley Trimble 13, Charley Moore 7, Rhianna Garmendiz 16, Brianna Jones 4, Emmy Clark 9, Jaylen Dabideen, Hayden Procida, Nora McClintok.

East Bladen (68) — NeNe Ward 30, NNevaeh Brown, Aaliyah Monroe, Ariel Cromartie 12, Cabria Baldwin 6, Tyliah Freeman, Tatum Allen 1, Zoe Smith 6, Taylor Dowless, Laila Smith 7, Nia McKoy, Niyah Wooten 6.