ROSE HILL — Union High remained in striking distance through the first half, but then wilted quickly in the second half as East Bladen High took a 68-47 non-conference road win on Tuesday.

The Eagles are now 5-2 on the season.

East Bladen managed to build a 12-9 first-quarter edge that was extended to 28-20 in the second quarter.

But halftime adjustments led to a big quarter for the Eagles opening the second half.

East Bladen overpowered the Spartans by outscoring them 28-11 and took a 56-31 lead into the final 8 minutes.

With the game all but out of reach in the fourth quarter, Union managed to win the period by a 16-12 margin — far too little too late.

“They have been playing tougher lately,” East Bladen coach Ken Cross has said. “If they do that, we always have a chance.”

Devonte Beatty turned in a big game for the Eagles, canning 17 points on the strength of three three-pointers. He was followed by Alex Stephens and Jaquan Jones, who each scored 14 points. Matt Massengill drained the other three of East Bladen’s six three-pointers in the game and finished with nine points.

— The Eagles of East Bladen High needed a solid fourth quarter against Wallace-Rose Hill High on Monday, and they got it to take a 68-45 win in a game that remained tight through three quarters.

The Eagles found scoring to be difficult in the first quarter, but their defense was stiff and East Bladen took a 9-5 edge into the second stanza.

The baskets began to fall in the second quarter, and the Eagles managed to extend their lead to 28-17 by outscoring the Bulldogs by a 19-12 margin.

Wallace-Rose Hill stuck close to the Eagles through the third quarter and narrowed the deficit to 41-33 going into the final 8 minutes.

That’s when East Bladen erupted for one of their best scoring quarters of the season, blistering the nets for 27 points. The Eagles defense also held the Bulldogs to just 12 fourth-quarter points to seal the win.

Jaquan Jones led East Bladen with 18 points, while Latyson Robinson and Alex Stephens each canned 10 points for the Eagles. Robinson has a three-pointer in his fourth straight game.