WILMINGTON – Wilmington Hoggard rode a 19-7 fourth quarter surge to a 41-29 victory over the East Bladen girls in the opening round of the Leon Brogden Holiday Tournament Thursday night.
The two teams were tied 22-22 entering the final period, but senior guard Blair Barefoot tossed in a basket and 3 free throws, junior Claire-Emma Britt dropped in a basket and 2 foul shots, and senior Julie Wilkerson drained a 3-point shot for Hoggard.
Barefoot topped the Hoggard scoring with 14 points, and Britt and Ellison Louthan finished with 7 points each.
Senior Erica McKoy threw in a trio of first quarter baskets, and junior Lorna Mendell added a basket as the Lady Eagles took an 8-5 first quarter lead.
Senior Ashley Hardin buried a 3-point shot, and Mendell and McKoy netted a basket each to keep East Bladen on top 15-12 at halftime.
Sophmore Patience Ward pumped in 3 baskets and a free throw in the third quarter to keep East Bladen even at 22-22. A Barefoot 3-point shot and 2 baskets and a free throw from sophmore Icess Tresvik rallied Hoggard into the tie.
McKoy led the East Bladen scoring with 12 points, and Ward finished with 7 points.
“Good experience for our team,” said Lady Eagle Coach Patty Evers. “We were complacent, missed free throws at critical points in the game and this loss was a good one for us! A learning experience that we needed!”
The Lady Vikings connected on 14 of 22 foul shots in the game, while East Bladen made only 3 of 10 free throws.
It was the first loss of the season for East Bladen, now 8-1. The Lady Eagles will continue play in the tournament against Wilmington Ashley Friday at 4:30.
East Bladen 8 7 7 7 – 29
Wilmington Hoggard 5 7 10 19 – 41
EAST BLADEN (29) – Katie Evans, Erica McKoy 12, Mya McDonald, Alexus Mitchell, Anna Kate White, Abbie Cross 3, Patience Ward 7, Ashley Hardin 3, Ja’Tyra Moore-Peterson, Lorna Mendell 4.
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