WILMINGTON -Senior Malcolm Bolden poured in 19 points as East Bladen blistered the nets with ten 3-point shots Wednesday en route to a 69-40 victory over Topsail in the Hoggard Holiday Classic.
Coach Aking Elting’s Eagles raised their record to 8-1 and will battle South Brunswick Thursday at 4:30 in their second game in the Classic.
Bolden fired in a trio of 3-point shots in the 1st quarter, senior Yontee Dobson sank 2 free throws, and senior Zamar Lewis worked the paint for a trio of baskets as the Eagles built a 17-7 lead at the quarter break.
Senior Jacob Nixon bombed in a 3-ball and another basket to begin the 2nd period. Lewis powered in a basket, and Bolden added a free throw to push the lead to 25-9. Nixon buried another 3-ball, before Lewis hit a free throw and Bolden drained a pair of long 3-pointers for a 35-17 lead. Lewis pumped in a baseline jumper to keep the margin at 37-21 at halftime.
Dobson started the 3rd period with a transition lay-up, and Nixon stuffed in a 2-handed dunk. A Bolden assist resulted in a Malaki Monroe lay-up. Junior Lee Barnes drilled in a pair of 3-point shots, and sophomores Dominick Collins and Rodney Lacewell made 2 free throws each. Collins flipped in a runner to stretch the lead to 55-29 at the 3rd quarter break.
Bolden pulled up for a 15-footer, hit a free throw then delivered a pass to Dobson for a lay-up as the 4th quarter began. Nixon swished another 3-ball, Chris Harding put back a rebound, and Collins banked in a 6-footer to close out the Eagle scoring.
Lewis just missed a double-double with 11 points, 8 rebounds, 4 blocked shots and 3 steals. Nixon racked up 13 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals. Dobson totaled 8 points and 4 rebounds.
Bolden dished out 7 assists and had 4 rebounds and 2 steals to go with his 19 points. Collins finished with 7 points and 3 assists. Monroe and junior Peyton Tatum grabbed 6 rebounds each, and Tatum had 2 blocks.
“Malcolm and Jacob have really been shooting the ball well – even in practice” said Coach Elting. “I am really pleased with the way we shot the ball and the energy that we played with after the 2-week lay-off.”
Junior Austin Hobson led the Pirates with 8 points.
Topsail 7 14 8 11 – 40
East Bladen 17 20 18 14 – 69
TOPSAIL (40) – Spencer Henry 3, Caden Wilson 4, Eli Hebron 5, Jarrett Trawick 6, Jariel Howard 3, Michael Kean, Evan Ellis 2, Rhett Britt 6, Austin Hobson 8, Jackson Moore 2, Bodie Taylor 1.
EAST BLADEN (69) – Dominick Collins 7, Malcolm Bolden 19, NyQuan Richardson, Malaki Monroe 2, Lee Barnes 6, Cameron White, Yontee Dobson 8, Jacob Nixon 13, J’Marius Smith, Chris Harding 2, Zamar Lewis 11, Peyton Tatum, Rodney Lacewell 2.
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