East Bladen’s Lady Eagles, the top seed in the Class 2-A East with a perfect 24-0 record, begin their quest for that elusive state title Tuesday night when they host Eastern Randolph at 6 p.m.
Coach Patty Evers’ East Bladen squad outscores opponents by over 30 points per game, averaging 55.8 points, while giving up 25.6.
Five-ten junior Lacey Suggs fires in 22.1 points per game to lead the Lady Eagle offense and fills the stat sheet with 6.8 steals, 5.9 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game. Center Imani Turner-Dobson, a 6-2 senior, anchors the inside play with 9.2 points, 8.2 rebounds and 7.7 blocks per game.
Six-foot senior Abbey Norris racked up 19 points in East Bladen’s last win over West Bladen and contributes 6.5 points and 7 rebounds per game. Junior Abby Ward tallies 7.2 points, 4.7 steals and 4.4 assists per game. Christiana Cromartie, a 6-1 junior, rounds out the starting line-up with 4.9 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game.
Coach Luke Barker’s Eastern Randolph Wildcats finished in a 3-way tie for third place in the PAC-6 Conference and were 10-14 overall.
Junior Alexis Andrews, a 5-1 point guard, who shoots 45 percent from 3-point land (59 of 130) tops the Lady Wildcat scoring column with a 15.4 points per game average. Five-five junior Ty-Kella Goins has drained 13 of 60 3-pointers and contributes 10.8 ppg to the Eastern Randolph offense.
Five-two senior guard M’Leigha Brown leads the Lady Wildcats on the boards with 5 rebounds per game and adds 8 ppg. Sophomore Kaylee Carter, a 5-11 center, 5-3 senior Samantha Swaney and 5-5 sophomore Samantha Burgess are expected to see action for Eastern Randolph.
The winner of the East Bladen/Eastern Randolph game will battle the winner of the Goldsboro/Southern Vance game in Thursday’s second round.
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