BLADENBORO – West Bladen’s Lady Knights fought off a couple of late St. Pauls rallies Friday night to remain unbeaten in Three Rivers Conference play with a 41-35 victory over the Lady Bulldogs.
St. Pauls sophmore T. J. Eichelberger began the fourth quarter with a pair of baskets that pulled the Lady Bulldogs to within 31-27.
Freshman Haley George sank 3 free throws to boost the West Bladen lead to 34-27 with 4:48 left. Eichelberger answered with a 3-point bomb to close the gap to 34-30.
Junior Lexie Corrothers made a free throw, and senior Carley Dawson banked in a rebound to pad the Lady Knight lead to 37-30 with 3:56 on the clock.
St. Pauls’ Diamond Simms-Moore dropped in a follow-shot to trim the margin to 37-33. After a Corrothers free throw for West, Simms-Moore scored a transition lay-up to slice the lead to 38-35 with 1:01 left.
Corrothers cashed in a free throw at the 36 second mark to push the West lead to 39-35. Two more Corrothers’ free throws with 9 seconds remaining sealed the verdict.
“That might be as good a four quarters of basketball as we played all year,” said West Bladen Coach Brian McCleney. “We didn’t get down when they made those runs, and I am so proud of my team right now.”
Corrothers led all scorers with 20 points for West Bladen, and Singletary finished with 12 points.
After a scoreless first half, Eichelberger rallied to score 13 points in the second half. Simms-Moore finished with 8 points, and junior Shakiya Floyd followed with 7 points.
“We had a plan to play T. J. (Eichelberger), and the girls really executed it,” said Coach McCleney. “We knew she could go off at any time, but the girls really worked hard and did what we asked.”
Singletary threw in a trio of baskets in the first quarter, and Corrothers and Dawson dropped in baskets. Corrothers hit a free throw as the Lady Knights took an 11-9 lead.
Corrothers nailed a 3-point shot and another basket in the second period. Junior Mikayla Meadows added a basket as the West Bladen lead grew to 18-11.
Corrothers fired in another 3-point shot and two more baskets in the third quarter, and Singletary pumped in a basket and 4 straight free throws as the Lady Knights stretched their lead to 31-23.
Eichelberger knocked down a 3-point shot, another basket and a free throw in the third quarter.
The Lady Knights improved to 6-0 in the Three Rivers and 9-2 overall. West Bladen will travel to South Columbus Tuesday night.
St. Pauls 9 2 12 12 – 35
West Bladen 11 7 13 10 – 41
WEST BLADEN (41) – Haley George 3, Kasee Singletary 12, Lexie Corrothers 20, Carley Dawson 4, Seniah Johnson, Mikayla Meadows 2, Scjada Ellison, Jessica Labra.
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