Whiteville 39 West Bladen 28
WHITEVILLE—Whiteville fought off a tough challenge from West Bladen Friday night as the Pack defeated the Knights 39-28 in girls’ basketball. It was the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams.
The Pack led most of the night but West Bladen did cut the down to three late in the third period before the Wolfpack put them away. The Pack were led in scoring by Ceonna Davis with 15 points while teammate Erica Green contributed 13 points.
Whiteville (1-0, 4-7) will travel to South Brunswick Friday. Kali Alle scored 10 points for West Bladen in the loss. The Knights (0-1, 1-9) will face East Bladen (10-2) in a county non-conference battle on Wednesday.
West Bladen (28) – Kali Allen 10, Natalie Sykes 9, Amaya McCarty 3, Haley Taylor 2, Hadley Dove 3, Abigail Dew 1, Saniya Martin, Harmony Richardson
Whiteville (39) – Jashai Robbs 6, Nalani Shaw 4, Ceonna Davis15, Eriana Green 13, Comayah Jackson 1
East Bladen 60 West Columbus 18
CERRO GORDO—East Bladen girls built a 22-point first half lead on their way to a 60-18 thumping of West Columbus Friday night.
Ariel Cromartie led the way with 17 points for the Eagles (2-1, 10-2) while Ellen Battle contributed 14 points. Tyliah Freeman pitched in 10 points in the victory. Demeya Powell had eight points but snatched 15 boards off the glass in the loss for the Vikings, who fall to 0-3 in the Carolina Conference and 0-9 for the season. East Bladen will travel to Union (1-3, 5-7) on Tuesday (Jan. 13). West Columbus will travel to Hobbton (0-3, 0-3) on Tuesday.
East Bladen (60) – Aaliyah Monroe 4, Ellen Battle 14, Ariel Cromartie 17, Tyliah Freeman 10, Sana’a Singletary 5, Nia McKoy 1, Niyah Wooten 9, Grayce Edwards
WEST COLUMBUS (18)—Aliana Spencer 2, Demeya Powell 8, Iyana Lowery 6, India Baxley 2
East Columbus 57 Union 34
LAKE WACCAMAW—Malia Graham scored 31 points and pulled down 11 rebounds in leading East Columbus past Union 57-34 on Friday night.
The Gators built a nine-point lead at the break before pulling away in the second half. Naveah Brown contributed 11 points and 15 rebounds in the win for East Columbus, now 2-1 in the Carolina Conference and 6-4 overall. They will host Lakewood (3-0, 9-4) in a key conference tilt o Wednesday. Union (1-3,5-7) will travel to East Bladen (2-1, 10-2) on Tuesday.
Fairmont 87 South Columbus 8
FAIRMONT—The Lady Tornadoes jumped out on South Columbus 39-1 in the first quarter and left the Stallions in the dust as Fairmont crushed South Columbus 87-8 in Southeastern Conference basketball Friday night.
Fairmont (1-0, 12-1) have now won 11 in a row. Fairmont filled up the stat sheet in the victory. Lyric McNair had 18 points plus eight steals and five assists. Teammates Kamiyah Smith poured in 16 points and grabbed 15 boards while Jayda Dial contributed 14 points and commanded 10 rebounds.
The Tornadoes will go to Dublin to take on West Bladen (0-1, 1-9) on Friday (Jan. 16). South Columbus falls to 0-1 in the conference and 2-9 overall. The Stallions (0-1, 2-9) will host Red Springs (0-1, 2-10) Friday.
