The second round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association basketball playoffs are scheduled Friday and two Bladen County teams again will host games.
The East Bladen girls (22-3) will play the Columbia Wildcats (11-10) with tip set for 6 p.m. The West Bladen boys (24-1) will play the Greene Central Rams (12-11) starting at 7 p.m. Admission fee is $7.
Friday’s winners advance to the third round of the state playoffs scheduled to be played Tuesday.
The East Bladen girls advanced Tuesday with a 74-19 thumping of Northwest Halifax. Seniors NeNe Ward (24 points) and Lalia Smith (15 points) scored their points in the first half as the Eagles raced to a 48-9 halftime lead.
No. 22 seed Columbia upended No. 10 seed Triangle Math & Science 47-38 in its first round contest Tuesday. The Wildcats tied for second place in the Atlantic 1A Conference. Shetana Spencer averages 16.8 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.7 steals per game, according to statistics on MaxPreps.com.
The Eagles, seeded No. 7 in the 1A East girls bracket, have won 10 straight games since a nonconference loss to Topsail 60-52 on January 14. East Bladen average margin of victory during its streak is 42.3 points, including three games won by more than 50 points.
The West Bladen boys are the No. 4 seed in the 2A East bracket and have won 17 straight games since dropping its lone contest December 19 at No. 1 seed Farmville Central 66-58. The Knights defeated Farmville Central 66-62 at home December 10.
West Bladen pulled away in the fourth quarter in beating Ayden-Grifton 48-33 on Tuesday in the first round of the state playoffs. Chase Williams led the way with 17 points and 10 rebounds for his 15th double-double for the season.
No. 20 seed Greene Central toppled No. 13 Washington 64-60 in its first-round game.
The Rams finished fourth in the eight-team Eastern Plains 2A Conference. Dontrez Evans leads a balanced Greene Central, averaging 12.5 points per game, according to MaxPreps.com.
The winner of Friday’s West Bladen-Greene Central game will play the winner between No. 5 seed Elizabeth City Northeastern and No. 12 Kinston. The Knights would host the third-round game with a win against Greene Central.
The winner of the East Bladen-Columbia girls game will play the winner between No. 2 Wilson Prep and No. 15 Neuse Charter. If the Eagles win Friday, they would play at Wilson Prep or host Neuse Charter.
Author: Sonny Jones
About Author
