03/28/2024
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BLADENBORO – Junior Seniah Johnson fired in a career-high 15 points Monday night to lead West Bladen to a 33-24 victory over Red Springs in the opening round of the Three Rivers Conference girls basketball tournament.

Coach Brian McCleney’s Lady Knights improved to 15-9 on the season and will play top-seeded East Bladen Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Fairmont in the tourney semi-finals.

Johnson and junior Kasee Singletary bombed in 3-point shots in the opening quarter, and freshman Haley George tossed in a basket as the Lady Knights built an early 8-2 lead.

Six-foot senior Taylynn Atkinson keyed a 9-3 Red Springs rally with 6 points, but Singletary sank a free throw, and Johnson threw in a basket to keep West Bladen even 11-11 at the quarter break.

Atkinson dropped in 4 points as Red Springs took a 17-11 lead in the second period, but Johnson connected on 5 of 6 free throws, and junior Mikayla Meadows worked the paint for a basket as the Lady Knights edged ahead 18-17 at halftime.

George pumped in a basket and a free throw in the third period, and Singletary cashed in 3 of 4 free throws as West Bladen took a 24-22 lead at the quarter break.

Atkinson was disqualified after two technical fouls in the final quarter, and the Lady Knight defense held the Lady Red Devils to only 2 points in the fourth quarter.

Johnson buried a 2-point shot and a trio of free throws in the final period, junior Tatiana Hunt popped in a basket, and Singletary made 2 free throws during a 9-2 West Bladen closing run.

Singletary finished with 9 points in the game, and George followed with 5 points. Atkinson scored 15 points before leaving the game.

The 15 wins by the Lady Knights is the most for a West Bladen girls basketball team since the 2012-2013 team won 20 games.

Red Springs    11  6  5  2 – 24
West Bladen  11  7  6  9 – 33

WEST BLADEN (33) – Haley George 5, Tatiana Hunt 2, Kasee Singletary 9, Seniah Johnson 15, Mikayla Meadows 2, Hannah Pait, Jessica Labra.

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