With the icy weather that hit Spivey’s Corner Monday morning causing the postponement of two games involving West Bladen, three Bladen teams will play their opening round games Tuesday night.
No. 5 Midway Boys (7-7; 15-9) at No. 4 West Bladen (9-5; 18-6)
The only Bladen team with a home game Tuesday is Coach Travis Pait’s West Bladen Knights who will host Midway at 7 p.m.
It will be the fourth meeting of the year between the two teams, and West Bladen has won all three by scores of 79-72 in the Woodmen Life Christmas Tournament, 70-59 at West Bladen and 58-46 at Midway.
Senior guard Stefan McDonald has scored almost 20 points per game against Midway and has averaged almost 15 ppg for the season. Junior Sayaun Dent has scored over 12 ppg in the 3 games against Midway and has a 13.3 ppt average for the season.
Other Knight leaders are 6-6 junior John Bowen (11 ppg) and high-flying Shaquille Johnson (9.3 ppg).
Midway is led by speedy senior Darius Perez (13.6 ppg), senior guard Shyheim Small (12.4 ppg) and 6-3 senior Paris Smith (11.3 ppg and 9.5 rebounds per game). 6-8 senior Marell Bullock and 6-1, 230-lb Michael Kramer provide more size inside.
No. 7 East Bladen Boys (3-11; 6-16) at No. 2 Wallace-Rose Hill (11-3; 15-5)
Coach Ken Cross’ East Bladen Eagles travel to Wallace-Rose Hill for a 7:30 game.
Wallace-Rose Hill won both of the regular season meetings. The Bulldogs rode a 30 free throw advantage to a 73-56 victory in Wallace. Junior Eian Hines tossed in 14 points to lead the Eagles in that game and twin brother Ethan Hines added 13 points. Senior center Chris Cromartie added 10 points.
In the second game at East Bladen, the Eagles raced to a 40-15 first-half lead, but the Bulldogs rallied and won the game 69-66 on junior Aliza Carter’s 3-point shot at the buzzer.
Carter hit four 3-point shots and led the Bulldogs with 16 points. Guard Ty Scarborough added 14 points, and senior Johnnie Glaspie scored 12.
Sophmore Sincere Smith topped the Eagle scoring with 13 points, and senior Dayvon Powell finished with 12 points.
Senior Jermaine Robinson leads the Eagle offense with a 10.2 ppg average. Ethan Hines (9.6 ppg) and Eian Hines (9.4 ppg) provide offense, speed and rebounding help. Junior Denzel Johnson (a 3-point shooting threat) adds 8 ppg.
Glaspie headlines the Wallace offense with 15 points and 7 rebounds per game. Senior Alex Lisane averages 10 ppg, and senior Tremaine Washington contributes 9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
No. 5 West Bladen Girls (5-9; 7-16) at No. 4 Midway (8-6; 13-10)
Coach Rick Rhoda’s West Bladen Lady Knights will visit Midway for a 6 p.m. game. Midway won the two regular-season meetings – 56-31 at West Bladen and 55-31 at Midway.
Senior Taylor Faircloth (12.4 ppg) and sophmore guard Leah Williams (10.9 ppg) lead the Midway scoring. Freshman J. J. Sankey adds 9 ppg.
Junior Laikyn Pait sparks the West Bladen attack scoring over 12 points per game and pulling down almost 9 rebounds per game.
Junior Akira Grimes (5 ppg and 6 rpg) and junior Jerena Purdie (3 ppg and 6 rpg) provide inside help. Junior guard Logan Autry adds 3 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists per game. Freshman Erika McKoy scored 4 ppg.
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