ELIZABETHTOWN – Junior Maegan Burney poured in 16 of her game-high 20 points in the 1st half as East Bladen raced to a 41-23 lead en route to a 69-51 victory over Clinton in the opening round of the Southeastern Athletic Conference Tournament.
Coach Patty Evers’ Lady Eagles improved to 22-2 with the win and advance to play 15-8 Fairmont in Wednesday’s tournament semi-final game at 7:30 at Red Springs. Fairmont defeated West Bladen 52-17 in their opening round game.
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Photos by Kenneth Armstrong
Burney also contributed 3 rebounds and 3 steals for East. Senior Alexus Mitchell tossed in 13 points and had 3 steals for the winners. Senior Maya McDonald posted 8 points, distributed a team-high 7 assists, grabbed 4 rebounds and came up with 5 steals.
Freshman Laila Smith checked all the stat columns with 8 points, a team-high 6 steals, 3 rebounds and 2 blocked shots. Freshman Iveonna “NeNe” Ward totaled 7 points and 3 rebounds. Junior AnnaGrey Heustess tallied 7 points, pulled down a team-high 6 rebounds, dished out 4 assists, blocked 2 shots and had 3 steals. Junior Karli Priest added 6 points.
Burney fired in 4 baskets and 2 free throws in the opening period. McDonald and Laila Smith attacked the basket for 2 buckets each, and Priest drained a 3-point shot for a 21-14 Lady Eagle lead. Kahaliah Chestnutt kept Clinton close with 2 baskets and a 3-ball.
Heustess buried a 3-ball and 2 free throws in the 2nd quarter, and Burney drove for 2 baskets and 2 free throws. McDonald worked her way to the paint for 2 more baskets, Ward threw in a basket and a free throw, and Mitchell sank 2 fouls shots as the halftime lead grew to 41-23.
Mitchell took charge in the 3rd period sinking a 3-point shot, another basket and 3 free throws. Burney and Laila Smith rang up 2 baskets each, Priest bombed in another 3-ball and Ward netted a basket for a 62-39 East Bladen lead.
Mitchell connected on another 3-ball in the final quarter, and Ward and Heustess delivered a basket each.
Chestnutt led the Lady Dark Horses, now 10-12, with 17 points. Ava Williford dropped in 10 points, and Brittany Blackburn added 9.
Clinton 14 9 16 12 – 51
East Bladen 21 20 21 7 – 69
Clinton (51) – Tara Joyner 5, KaMyah Smith 2, Khaliah Chestnutt 17, Larkin Best, Brittany Blackburn 9, Zoe Avery 1, Ava Williford 10, Anna Perry Sinclair 3, Avery Evans 4.
East Bladen (69) – Iveonna Ward 7, Martha Simmons, Maya McDonald 8, Alexus Mitchell 13, AnnaGrey Heustess 7, Karli Priest 6, Zoe Smith, Maegan Burney 20, Laila Smith 8, Brianna Phillips.
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