By John Clark
CLINTON – Senior Malcolm Bolden racked up 20 of his 22 points in the 2nd half, and senior Zamar Lewis pulled down 19 rebounds as East Bladen rolled to a 64-38 victory over Red Springs Thursday night in the boys basketball semi-finals of the Southeastern Athletic Conference tournament.
It was the 4th straight win for East Bladen’s SAC-7 co-champions, who raised their record to 19-5 and will play St. Pauls – a 49-44 winner over West Bladen – in Friday night’s championship game at 7:30. Red Springs drops to 17-9 and now must wait for the release Saturday of the state playoff pairings.
After Red Devil Kaedon Porter’s lay-up started the game, the Eagles answered with 12 consecutive points. Lewis dropped in a lay-up, and senior Yontee Dobson banged in a follow then netted a free throw. Senior Jacob Nixon turned a steal into a lay-up, sophomore Dominick Collins drove for a lay-up, and senior Malaki Monroe buried a 3-point shot for a 12-2 lead.
Nixon tossed in a 10-foot floater then drilled in a 3-point shot for a 17-7 East lead at the quarter break.
Six-five sophomore Rodney Lacewell muscled in a follow, and Nixon nailed another 3-ball for a 22-7 lead. Lewis powered in a follow shot, Bolden drove for a lay-up, and Dobson made a free throw as the Eagle lead grew to 27-14 at halftime.
Bolden exploded in the 3rd quarter attacking the Red Devil defense for 5 lay-ups and a short runner. Collins drove for a lay-up and 2 free throws, Lewis converted a Monroe assist into a lay-up, and Monroe scooped in a basket and tacked on a free throw as the East lead grew to 48-28.
Nixon and Bolden started the final period with lay-ups, before the free throw parade began. Bolden connected on 5 of 6 foul shots, Collins made all 4 of his foul shots. Senior Cameron White sank 3 of 4 free throws, and Lacewell netted 1 foul shot.
Bolden dished out 3 assists and snared 4 rebounds to go with his 22 points. Nixon finished with 12 points, 3 assists and 3 steals. Collins tallied 8 points. Lewis scored 6 points, blocked 3 shots and had 2 steals to go with his 19 rebounds. Lacewell grabbed 9 rebounds, Monroe totaled 6 points and 3 assists, and Dobson finished with 4 points, 6 rebounds and 4 steals.
“I thought we got off to a slow start. We didn’t play with enough energy early,” said Eagle Coach Aking Elting. “But Wow! Malcolm scored 20 points in the 2nd half. Zee (Lewis) is definitely the ‘Man in the Middle.’ He has been averaging 13 points and 16 rebounds per game.
Elting continued, “Jacob gave us a lift in the 1st half and has been our most consistent player. Yontee is coming along and would be a big plus for us, and Rodney is like a gorilla in there when he grabs the ball.”
Makhi Arthur led the Red Devils with 12 points. Jaylen Sturdivant followed with 8 points, and Porter tallied 7 points.
Red Springs 7 7 14 10 — 38
East Bladen 17 10 21 16 — 64
RED SPRINGS (38) – Carnelius Manning, Kaedon Porter 7, Jamey Tedder 5, Triston Locklear, Kohnner Oxendine, Makhi Arthur 12, Darren Wilkins 4, Jasiah Williams 2, Jaylen Rush, Jaylen Sturdivant 8, Timothy Hammonds.
EAST BLADEN (64) – Dominick Collins 8, Malcolm Bolden 22, NyQuan Richardson, Malaki Monroe 6, Lee Barnes, Cameron White 3, Yontee Dobson 4, Jacob Nixon 12, Tevin McLean, Chris Harding, Zamar Lewis 6, Peyton Tatum, Rodney Lacewell 3.
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