ELIZABETHTOWN – Senior Maya McDonald just missed a double-double as she led East Bladen to an 83-43 Southeastern Athletic Conference girls basketball victory over Red Springs Thursday night.
McDonald loaded up the stat sheet with 22 points, 9 rebounds, 7 steals and 7 assists. Senior Alexus Mitchell tossed in 15 points for the winners, and junior Maegan Burney pumped in 13 points. Freshman Laila Smith fired in 11 points, grabbed 6 rebounds and had 5 steals.
Freshman Iveonna “NeNe” Ward netted 10 points to give the Lady Eagles 5 players in double-figures and also contributed 5 steals. Sophomore Zoe Smith popped in 7 points, and junior Karli Priest added 5 points. Junior AnnaGrey Heustess pulled down 4 rebounds and blocked 3 shots.
McDonald sank 4 free throws and 2 baskets, and Priest drained a 3-point shot and another basket to spark a 24-8 Lady Eagle surge to begin the game. Burney threw in a trio of baskets and a free throw, McDonald buried a 3-point shot and 2 more baskets, and Mitchell connected on 4 free throws and a basket as the East lead grew to 47-19 at halftime.
Ward nailed a pair of 3-point shots to start the 2nd half, Burney and McDonald tacked on 2 baskets each and McDonald hit a free throw to keep the lead at 64-35 at the 3rd quarter break.
Laila Smith dropped in 2 baskets and 2 free throws in the final quarter for East. Mitchell delivered 4 free throws and a basket, and Zoe Smith made 3 free throws. For the game the Lady Eagles connected on 21 of 34 free throws.
Elora Oxendine topped the Red Springs scoring list with 12 points, and Amari McLean followed with 9 points.
Coach Patty Evers’ Lady Eagles improved to 4-1 in the SAC-7 and 15-1 overall and will travel to West Bladen Monday night.
Red Springs 8 11 16 8 – 43
East Bladen 24 23 17 19 – 83
RED SPRINGS (43) – Brooke Wilkins 2, Monica Washington 3, Amyah Farrington 2, Amari McLean 9, Elora Oxendine 12, Jocelyn Maynor 2, Nakira Hunt 5, Anyla Hunt 2, Jazlyn Jones 3, Yanara Sanders 3.
EAST BLADEN (83) – Iveonna Ward 10, Martha Simmons, Maya McDonald 22, Alexus Mitchell 15, AnnaGrey Heustess, Karli Priest 5, Zoe Smith 7, Maegan Burney 13, Laila Smith 11, Brianna Phillips.
About Author
