ST PAULS – Senior Tamyra Council scored 15 of her 19 points in the 2nd half as St. Pauls pulled away for a 56-42 victory over East Bladen Tuesday night in the Eastern Regional Class 2A Basketball Semi-Finals.
The Lady Eagles led 24-22 at halftime, but Tamyra Council dropped in 3 lay-ups and 2 rebound baskets during a 10-4 Lady Bulldog spurt that opened up a 32-28 lead.
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Photos by Kenneth Armstrong
Lady Eagle freshman Iveonna “NeNe” Ward turned an assist from senior Alexus Mitchell into a lay-up, and junior Maegan Burney sank 2 free throws to tie the game 28-28.
Mitchell canned 2 free throws, and freshman Laila Smith muscled in a rebound basket to keep the Lady Eagles within 34-32 with 3:30 left in the 3rd quarter. St. Pauls junior Jakieya Thompson scored in transition, and Taliya Council, Tamyra’s twin sister, made a corner 3-ball to push the lead to 41-32
Ward tossed in 2 free throws, and senior Maya McDonald hit one to keep the Lady Eagles within 43-35 at the quarter break. Ward netted another free throw in the final quarter, and McDonald powered in a rebound as East Bladen trimmed the lead to 45-38 with 5:19 left to play.
After a trio of St. Pauls lay-ups, Burney buried a 3-point shot to trim the margin to 51-41 with 2:44 remaining.
“We did not play well in the second half,” said East Bladen Coach Patty Evers. “We were not aggressive after the lead reached 8 points, especially on defense. We didn’t defend the post.”
Tamyra Council posted a double-double of 19 points and 13 rebounds. Thompson scored 10 of her 18 points before halftime. Taliya Council added 11 points and 6 rebounds.
Burney led the Lady Eagle scoring with 14 points. Mitchell finished with 10 points, 2 assists and 2 steals. McDonald grabbed 10 rebounds, scored 7 points and dished out 3 assists. Ward tallied 5 points, and junior AnnaGrey Heustess pulled down 5 rebounds.
Burney put back a rebound, and McDonald drove through the St. Pauls defense for a lay-up and an early 4-0 lead. McDonald hurled a full-court pass to Burney for a lay-up then scored in transition to push the Lady Eagle lead to 8-5.
McDonald sent another long pass to Burney for a lay-up and a 3-point play that grew the lead to 11-7. Lay-ups by Taliya Council and Thompson pulled St. Pauls even 11-11, but Heustess nailed a 3-point shot to put East back on top 14-11.
Taliya Council scored in transition, and Thompson stole the ball and flipped in a lay-up that edged St. Pauls ahead 15-14 at the quarter break.
Mitchell buried a pair of 3-point shots in the 2nd period, and McDonald delivered a pass to Ward for a lay-up as East Bladen went up 22-20. After Tamyra Council powered in a tying basket, Mitchell cashed in 2 free throws to put the Lady Eagles ahead 24-22 at halftime.
“I am proud of these girls,” said Evers. “Winning 26 games and reaching the Regionals says a lot about them. They have a lot to be proud of. I can’t say enough about the seniors, Maya and Alexus, and what they have meant to this program.”
During McDonald and Mitchell’s 4-year career, the Lady Eagles won 83 of their 94 games. East Bladen finished this season with a 26-4 record. Saturday St. Pauls (27-1) will play No. 3 seed Farmville Central (26-4) and a 68-53 winner over Roanoke Rapids in the other semifinal.
East Bladen 14 10 11 7 – 42
St. Pauls 15 7 21 13 -56
EAST BLADEN (42) – Iveonna Ward 5, Martha Simmons, Maya McDonald 7, Alexus Mitchell 10, AnnaGrey Heustess 3, Karli Priest, Zoe Smith, Maegan Burney 14, Laila Smith 2, Brianna Phillips.
ST. PAULS (56) – Taliya Council 11, Au.Nyah Teague 6, Tamyra Council 19, Jakieya Thompson 18, Jashontae Harris 2, Aniyah Easterling, Demira Wells, Jada McKinnon, Julianna Bell, Zakoreya Davis, Zalaya Gardner.
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