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ELIZABETHTOWN – Sophomore Laila Smith scored 13 of her game-high 25 points in the opening quarter as East Bladen raced to leads of 15-0 and 24-4 en route to a 72-41 Southeastern Athletic Conference girls basketball victory over West Bladen Friday night.

Laila Smith threw in 4 lay-ups, a follow shot, an 8-footer and a free throw, and senior Maegan Burney tossed in a trio of lay-ups in the period. Senior Karli Priest nailed a 3-point shot, and sophomore Iveonna “NeNe” Ward pumped in a 15-footer for the Lady Eagles. Senior Rylee Chadwick dropped in an 8-footer and a lay-up for West.

“This is the first game that we came out and weren’t timid,” said East Bladen Coach Patty Evers. “Seven or 8 of the girls were out shooting on their own earlier today. They weren’t nervous. We rebounded better today. Laila had a big game, and AnnaGrey (Heustess) seemed to be blocking every shot.”

Laila Smith pulled down 15 rebounds to complete her double-double and added 5 assists and 2 steals. Heustess recorded a double-double of 13 points and 10 blocked shots to go with her 7 rebounds and 4 assists. Burney finished with 12 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals.

Ward contributed 9 points, 4 assists and 2 steals. Junior Zoe Smith grabbed 8 rebounds and had 2 steals. Priest posted 6 points, 3 rebounds and 2 steals. Freshman Ariel Cromartie tallied 5 points and 2 steals, and freshman Cabria Baldwin corralled 3 rebounds.

Chadwick poured in 22 points and had 2 rebounds and 2 steals for West. Junior Brookee Singletary racked up 7 points and a team-high 12 rebounds. Senior Lainey Autry finished with 5 points and 2 steals. Junior Kiera Lewis totaled 4 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals. Senior Kirsten Warrick had 2 rebounds and 2 steals.

“They came out and hit us in the mouth and we didn’t respond well,” said Lady Knight Coach Brian McCleney. “We got better in the 2nd quarter, but we were limited in our rotations with 3 girls out with injuries and I think fatigue was a factor in the 2nd half.”

Heustess buried a pair of 3-point shots in the 2nd period, and Laila Smith tossed in a runner, a free throw and a follow shot. Chadwick pumped in an 8-footer, a lay-up and 2 free throws for West. Autry drained a 3-point shot, Singletary powered in a follow, and Lewis flipped in a runner to keep the Lady Knights within 35-17 at intermission.

Ward, Heustess and Priest connected on 3-point shots in the 3rd quarter. Burney drove for 2 lay-ups, Laila Smith tacked on a lay-up and 3 free throws. Ward put back a rebound, and Heustess netted a lay-up as the East lead grew to 57-24. Chadwick drove for a pair of baskets, hit a free throw and sent an assist to Autry for a lay-up.

Chadwick popped in a 15-footer, a baseline jumper, a follow shot and a free throw in the final period. Singletary banged in a follow shot, a lay-up and 2 free throws. Lewis made a free throw, and Warrick knocked down a 3-point shot.

Cromartie sank 3 free throws and a lay-up for East in the final period. Heustess, Burney, Laila Smith and Brianna Phillips netted lay-ups, and Ward scored on a follow shot.

East Bladen improved to 3-0 in SAC-7 play and 9-2 overall and will host Rocky Point Trask Wednesday night in a non-conference game. West Bladen, now 1-1 in league play and 8-3 overall, will entertain SAC-7 foe Fairmont Tuesday night.

West Bladen 4 13 7 17 – 41
East Bladen 24 11 22 15 – 72

West Bladen (41) – Lainey Autry 5, Holland Davis, Rylee Chadwick 22, Faith Wren, Kirsten Warrick 3, Brookee Singletary 7, Kiera Lewis 4, Natalee Sykes, Kali Allen, Alina Chavez.

East Bladen (72) – Iveonna “NeNe” Ward 9, Martha Simmons, Ariel Cromartie 5, Cabria Baldwin, AnnaGrey Heustess 13, Karli Priest 6, Zoe Smith, Maegan Burney 12, Laila Smith 25, Nia McKoy, Brianna Phillips 2.