ELIZABETHTOWN – Natalee Sykes fired in 12 points, and Bladenboro survived a 5-0 Elizabethtown rally in the final period as the Lady Bulldogs edged the Lady Cougars 19-18 in Waccamaw Middle School Conference girls’ basketball action.
Sykes lit up the scoreboard with a trio of 2-point baskets then nailed a 3-point shot as she sparked the Lady Bulldogs to an early 9-2 lead.
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Photos by Kenneth Armstrong
Ariel Cromartie tossed in the only Elizabethtown basket in the opening period, then poured in 3 more baskets in the 2nd quarter. Teammates Niyah Wooten and Sanaa Singletary threw in a basket each, and Wooten tacked on a free throw.
Kali Allen and Micheala Hester answered with baskets for the Lady Bulldogs, and Allen added a free throw to keep Bladenboro on top 14-13 at halftime.
Sykes buried a 3-point shot in the 3rd quarter, and Addison Wilcox popped in a basket as the Lady Bulldog lead grew to 19-13.
Cromartie rallied the Lady Cougars with a basket and 3 free throws in the final period. Cromartie led all scorers in the game with 13 points.
Coach Otis Evans’ Lady Bulldogs improved to 7-0 with the victory and will travel to Clarkton School of Discovery Tuesday. Elizabethtown, now 2-5, will travel to Tar Heel Tuesday.
Bladenboro 9 5 5 0 – 19
Elizabethtown 2 11 0 5 – 18
Bladenboro (19) – Faith Wren, Natalee Sykes 12, Kali Allen 3, Makenna Thurman, Karlee Gause, Addison Wilcox 2, Zybriona Johnson, Micheala Hester 2, Angelina Jones.
Elizabethtown (18) – Niyah Wooten 3, Ariel Cromartie 13, Nia McKoy, Sanaa Singletary 2, Harmony Richardson, A’Nide McKibben, Hailey Bennett.