Spread the love

By John Clark

BLADENBORO –West Bladen’s Lady Knights raced to leads of 16-2 and 29-6 Tuesday night enroute to their 3rd consecutive win 40-27 over South Columbus in non-conference girls’ basketball action.

Sophomore Kali Allen ignited the early West spurt with a 3-pointer from the right wing. Junior Holland Davis nailed a corner 3-ball, and senior Mallory Bryan drilled in another 3-ball for a 9-0 lead. Bryan banked in a runner for an 11-0 lead.

Jakiyah Graham cracked the scoring ice for South with 1:15 left in the period, but Bryan turned a feed from senior Kiera Lewis into a lay-up, and Allen bombed in another 3-ball for a 16-2 Lady Knight lead.

Lewis stole the ball and dashed for a lay-up to begin the 2nd quarter. Junior Alina Chavez sank 2 foul shots, and sophomore Tah’lela Bethea put back a rebound as the lead grew to 22-4. Allen and Lewis drained 3-balls, and Lewis hit a free throw for a 29-6 halftime lead.

“In the 1st half we moved the ball well, got some good shots and knocked them down,” said Lady Knight Coach Brian McCleney. “As usually happens when they go in like that, they didn’t fall in the 2nd half.” West made 6 3-pointers in the 1st half but none in the 2nd half.

Bryan drove for a lay-up, popped in a 6-footer and sent an assist to Lewis for a lay-up to keep the Lady Knights up 35-12 after 3 periods.

The Lady Stallions connected on 6 of 15 free throws and capitalized on 9 West turnovers during a 15-5 closing run. Bryan sprinted end-to-end for a lay-up, Lewis cashed in a free throw, and Davis drove for a lay-up to keep West on top.

Bryan led the Lady Knights with 13 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals. Lewis racked up 9 points, 7 rebounds and 2 steals. Allen finished with 9 points and 5 rebounds. Davis added 5 points, and Chavez pulled down 4 rebounds.

Graham paced the Lady Stallions with 10 points, and Jordane Cribb followed with 7 points.

“We had several girls out sick tonight,” said McCleney. “But the girls battled and it’s nice to go into the break with a 3-game winning streak. I am proud of them.”

The Lady Knights improved to 3-4 and will host West Columbus on January 2nd.

South Columbus 4 2 6 15 -27
West Bladen 16 13 6 5 – 40

South Columbus (27)– Morgan Boyd, Jenaysha Jackson, Jordane Cribb 7, Jakiyah Graham 10, Trinity Strickland 3, Karys Townsend 5, Zyrainna Drayton, Greenley Hardee 2, India Sammons, June Perritte.

West Bladen (40) – Mallory Bryan 13, Tah’lela Bethea 2, Holland Davis 5, Kiera Lewis 9, Kali Allen 9, Alina Chavez 2, Saniyah Martin.