ELIZABETHTOWN – Junior Malcolm Bolden pumped in 11 of his game-high 19 points during a 20-4 closing blitz that propelled East Bladen to a 52-42 victory over Clinton in the opening round of the Southeastern Athletic Conference Basketball Tournament.
Coach Aking Elting’s Eagles notched their 5th consecutive win and improved to 15-7, the most wins for an East Bladen team since the 2012-2013 season. East Bladen will face 14-11 Red Springs, a 72-37 winner over Midway, in Thursday’s 7:30 semi-final game at Red Springs.
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Photos by Kenneth Armstrong
The Eagles trailed 38-32 entering the final period, but senior Nazire Smith hit a free throw, and Bolden drove for a basket to whittle the margin to 38-35. However Clinton’s Nick Smith who led the Dark Horses with 16 points pushed the lead back to 41-35 with a 3-point basket.
Bolden buried a 3-point shot with 4:42 left that narrowed the gap to 41-38. Clinton’s B. J. Bennett canned a free throw, but Nazire Smith and junior Jordan Mathis pounded the boards for rebound baskets that knotted the score 42-42 with 3:12 on the clock.
The Eagles missed a chance to take the lead at the foul line, but Bolden converted 1 of 2 foul shots after a technical foul on Nick Smith to edge the Eagles in front 43-42 with 1:05 remaining. Bolden then drove for a lay-up and a 45-42 lead with 56 seconds left. Bolden cashed in 2 free throws to pad the lead to 47-42 with 32 seconds remaining.
Bolden made 1 more foul shot, and junior teammate Jacob Nixon sank 4 straight free throws in the final 16 seconds to stretch the final margin to 52-42.
“It’s hard to beat a team 3 times (in 6 days),” said Elting. “I told my guys to be ready because these guys will come to play and try to ruin a guy’s season. I knew Clinton was going to come in and play hard.”
On the big closing rally Elting said, “The guys put in a little more energy than in the first 3 quarters. They knew what was at stake. It is hard to get your team up to play a team 3 times so that was my big deal with this game…just trying to get them fired up to play Clinton again.”
Bolden collected 3 steals to go with his 19 points. Nixon followed with 11 points, and Nazire Smith worked the paint for 9 points and 5 rebounds. Junior Zamar Lewis only scored 4 points for the winners, but he controlled the inside play with 16 rebounds and 4 steals. Mathis had 5 points and 2 assists.
Nixon and Bolden drained 3-point shots to start the game, and Bolden tacked on a free throw. Mathis and Nazire Smith muscled in baskets as the Eagles built an 11-7 lead.
Bolden drove for a pair of buckets in the 2nd period, and Nixon nailed a 3-point shot and a free throw. Lewis tossed in 2 free throws, and sophomore Rodney Lacewell powered in a basket. However Nick Smith, Bennett and Landen Pearson delivered 3-balls as the Dark Horses rallied to edge ahead 24-23 at halftime.
Nick Smith and Pearson buried 3-balls and combined for 12 points as Clinton built a 38-32 lead in the 3rd quarter. Pearson finished with 12 points for the Dark Horses. Nazire Smith rallied the Eagles with a long 3-ball and 2 free throws, and Lewis and junior Yontee Dobson battled inside for a pair of Eagle buckets.
“I think our guys will be ready,” shared Elting about Thursday’s semi-final against a Red Springs team that the Eagles split 2 games with. “I think tonight kind of taught us a lesson that we can’t come out and take anybody lightly.”
Clinton 7 17 14 4 –42
East Bladen 11 12 9 20 – 52
Clinton (44) – Zicareian McNeil 6, Walker Spell, Blake Smith, Landen Pearson 12, Nick Smith 16, Bryan Edwards 4, B. J. Bennett 4, Jon Blackman, Jeffrey Arnette.
East Bladen (52) – Ahmad Powell, Malcolm Bolden 19, Jordan Mathis 5, Jacob Nixon 11, Nazire Smith 9, Cam White, Peyton Tatum, Yontee Dobson 2, Malaki Monroe, Zamar Lewis 4, Rodney Lacewell 2.
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