BLADENBORO – Seniors Rylee Chadwick and Lainey Autry and junior Mallory Bryan combined for 25 points in the final period as West Bladen roared back from a 15-point deficit to edge East Columbus 67-66 in non-conference girls’ basketball action Tuesday night.
The Lady Gators led 48-38 entering the 4th quarter and stretched that margin to 15 points with only 5:30 left to play, before the winning West surge began. Chadwick tossed in a trio of baskets and sank 5 of 5 foul shots to tally 11 of her team-high 19 points in the period.
Autry nailed a 3-point shot and added 2 other buckets as she scored 7 of her 12 points in the quarter. Bryan threw in a pair of baskets and cashed in 3 of 4 free throws as she rang up 7 of her 17 points in the period.
Juniors Brookee Singletary and Kiera Lewis dropped in a basket each during the winning rally. Lewis finished with 8 points for the Lady Knights, and Singletary totaled 6 points in the game.
West Bladen had dropped a 59-35 decision to the Lady Gators 8 days ago. “The girls played harder tonight,” said Coach Brian McCleney. “And the ball went in the basket tonight. That always helps.”
Bryan popped in 2 baskets and a free throw for West in the opening period, and Chadwick and Lewis added a bucket each. However 6 points from Malayah Hines sparked the Lady Gators to a 15-9 lead.
Lewis worked the paint for a pair of 2nd period baskets. Chadwick flipped in a basket and 2 free throws, and Autry buried a 3-point shot. Senior Kirsten Warrick made 2 free throws, and junior Megan Pait hit one. Sophomore Alina Chavez powered in a basket as the Lady Knights closed the gap to 27-25 at halftime.
Hines who topped all scorers with 27 points for the Lady Gators blistered the nets with two 3-point shots and a trio of other hoops to spark a 21-13 run that opened up a 48-38 lead at the 3rd quarter break. Destiny Mitchell bombed in a 3-point shot in the period and totaled 13 points for East in the game.
Bryan fired in a 3-pointer and 2 free throws for West in the 3rd period. Singletary pumped in a pair of baskets, and Chadwick and Autry connected for 1 basket each.
The Lady Knights, now 1-1, will travel to South Columbus Wednesday night.
East Columbus 15 12 21 18 – 66
West Bladen 9 16 13 29 – 67
EAST COLUMBUS (66) – Malayah Hines 27, Malia Graham 4, Destiny Mitchell 13, Kaley Mitchell 3, Chynna Patrick 6, Shamiah Johnson 1, BB Vereen, Alaya White 8, Rylie Graham 4.
WEST BLADEN (67) – Lainey Autry 12, Megan Pait 1, Mallory Bryan 17. Holland Davis, Rylee Chadwick 19, Kirsten Warrick 2, Brookee Singletary 6, Kiera Lewis 8, Kali Allen, Alina Chavez 2.
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