DUBLIN – Senior Patience Parker scored 7 of her game-high 12 points in the final period as West Bladen rallied for a 46-44 girls basketball victory over South Robeson Thursday night in Three Rivers Conference basketball action.
South Robeson took a 38-36 lead into the final period and padded the margin to 41-36, before Parker drove for a lay-up then sank 2 free throws to pull West to within 41-40 with 4:53 left to play.
West Bladen junior Conner Brisson’s assist set up a lay-up by junior Scjada Ellison that tied the game 42-42 with 3:36 on the clock. Brisson made 2 free throws with 1:57 remaining that put the Lady Knights ahead 44-42.
A Parker free throw with 31 seconds left kept the West lead at 45-43, and junior Carley Dawson tossed in another free throw with 16 seconds on the clock that padded the Lady Knight lead to 46-44. The West defense held on for the win.
Senior Elizabeth Allbright and sophmore Kasee Singletary finished with 9 points each for the Lady Knights. Brisson scored 6 before fouling out, and Singletary left the game in the fourth quarter with an injury.
“We finally had a close game go our way at the end,” said West Bladen Coach Bryan McCleney. “The effort was there and everybody stepped up at the end.”
It was a big win for the Lady Knights who have already lost two players for the season to injury and were without leading scorer Chasitty Lacy who was out with the flu.
The Lady Knights rolled to a 20-11 first quarter lead as Singletary drilled in a 3-point shot and 2 more baskets. Allbright banged in a pair of inside hoops, and Brisson and sophmore Seniah Johnson bombed in 3-point shots. Parker turned a basket into a 3-point play.
Brisson buried another 3-point shot in the second quarter, Singletary and senior Mikayla Winebarger threw in a basket each, and Parker canned 2 free throws to keep West Bladen ahead 29-19 at halftime.
South Robeson’s Nytia Lewis worked the paint for 4 baskets in the third quarter as the Lady Mustangs rallied with a 19-7 spurt to take a 38-36 lead. Allbright popped in a basket and connected on 3 free throws, and Johnson added a basket to keep West close.
“We kind of lost our focus,” said Coach McCleney. “I told the girls that we needed to attack No. 32 (Lewis), and take the ball to her. We finally did that. It was a tough effort by the girls.”
Zaneta Ellerbee topped the Lady Mustang scoring with 12 points, and Lewis finished with 9 points.
The Lady Knights will travel to Whiteville Friday night.
WEST BLADEN (46) – Conner Brisson 6, Mikayla Winebarger 2, Kasee Singletary 9, Carley Dawson 1, Patience Parker 12, Seniah Johnson 5, Elizabeth Allbright 9, Scjada Ellison 2, Nyasia Ellison.
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