BLADENBORO – Freshman Iveonna “NeNe” Ward fired in 11 of her career-high 22 points during a 26-4 opening surge that propelled East Bladen to a 71-31 Southeastern Athletic Conference girls’ basketball victory over West Bladen.
Ward posted a double-double of 22 points and 13 steals and also added 3 assists and 2 rebounds. Freshman Laila Smith also netted a career-high of 15 points to go with her 5 rebounds and 2 steals.
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Photos by Kenneth Armstrong
“It was a good night for our freshmen,” said Lady Eagle Coach Patty Evers. “NeNe and Laila as well as Martha Simmons all did a good job for us. This was a good team win.”
Senior Maya McDonald racked up 11 points, 5 steals, 4 rebounds and 3 assists for East. Junior Brianna Phillips tallied 9 points and 3 rebounds, and junior Maegan Burney contributed 8 points and 3 rebounds.
Junior AnnaGrey Heustess checked all the stat columns with 4 steals, 4 rebounds, 2 blocked shots and 2 assists. Junior Karli Priest totaled 2 assists, 3 steals and 2 rebounds. Sophomore Zoe Smith had 2 steals and 2 rebounds.
Junior Makayla Wright topped the West Bladen scoring list with 11 points. Sophomore Brookee Singletary tossed in 6 points, and sophomore Mallory Bryan and senior Hannah Pait scored 4 points each.
Burney raced to the rim for a trio of baskets in the opening period, and senior Alexus Mitchell nailed a 3-ball to go with a 3-ball and a trio of baskets by Ward.
McDonald drove for a 3-point play and another basket in the 2nd quarter, and Smith dropped in a basket and 2 free throws. Phillips drained a 3-ball as the East lead grew to 42-5.
“We hadn’t seen each other in 3 days (due to the snow), but we came out ready to play,” said Evers. “We were very good on defense, and our defense creates offense for us. The game just flowed easily for us, and our second group came in and played well too.”
Wright attacked the basket for 2 buckets and a free throw for West in the 3rd period. Bryan flipped in a basket and 2 free throws, and Singletary connected for a basket and a free throw.
Ward hurled in a trio of baskets in the 3rd quarter for East. McDonald popped in a pair of baskets, and Laila Smith buried a 3-ball to keep the margin at 57-21.
Laila Smith sank 4 free throws and a pair of baskets in the final period, and Phillips cashed in another 3-ball and a foul shot. Wright bombed in a 3-ball, another basket and hit a free throw for West in the quarter.
“They just came out and hit us in the mouth,” said West Coach Brian McCleney. “We were overmatched, and they are just playing better and better. We just have to get ready for Fairmont Wednesday.”
The Lady Eagles, now 5-1 in the SAC-7 and 16-1 overall, will host Fairmont Friday. West Bladen, now 8-7 overall, will host Fairmont Wednesday.
East Bladen 26 16 15 14 -71
West Bladen 4 1 16 10 – 31
East Bladen (71) – Iveonna Ward 22, Martha Simmons, Maya McDonald 11, Alexus Mitchell 3, AnnaGrey Heustess 2, Karli Priest, Zoe Smith 1, Maegan Burney 8, Laila Smith 15, Brianna Phillips 9.
West Bladen (31) –Lainey Autry, Megan Pait 2, Mallory Bryan 4, Holland Davis 2, Makayla Wright 11, Azillyah McDonald 2, Kirsten Warrick, Brookee Singletary 6, Kiera Lewis, Alina Chavez, Anasia Baxley, Hannah Pait 4.
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