MOUNT OLIVE — East Bladen scored the final seven points Tuesday night and won its first game, beating North Duplin 43-36 in a Carolina Conference high school boys’ basketball game.
With the score tied at 36-all, East Bladen’s Tevin McLean connected on a 10-foot jumper with 1:30 to play. Landyn Scott made a layup off a pass from Keyshawn Kemp with 40 seconds left and McLean made a free throw and basket in the closing 26 seconds.
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Kemp led the Eagles (1-8, 1-1 Carolina) with 15 points. Scott had 13 and McLean had 12.
Jaelyn Ingram had 19 points for North Duplin (3-6, 1-2 Carolina).
East Bladen scored the first nine points of the fourth quarter on baskets by Kemp, Scott, Dashon Campbell and a three-point play by McLean for a 36-29 lead. The Rebels scored the next seven points to knot it at 36 with 1:45 remaining.
East Bladen (43) — Keyshawn Kemp 15, Tevin McLean 12, Khalil McKoy, John Monroe, Landyn Scott 13, Conner Hill, Dashon Campbell 3, Jaden Lewis.
North Duplin (36) — Lucas Dail 4, Jaelyn Ingram 19, Christopher Kornegay 1, Noah Bennett 9, Carrell Phillips 3.
VARSITY GIRLS: NORTH DUPLIN 57, EAST BLADEN 47
The Rebels rallied from an early 12-0 deficit to beat East Bladen and remain unbeaten in Carolina Conference play.
East Bladen (8-2, 1-1 Carolina) scored the first dozen points on two baskets each by Sana’a Singletary, Ariel Cromartie and Niyah Wooten and led 20-6 at the end of the first quarter.
North Duplin (7-3, 3-0 Carolina) cut the deficit to 31-24 by halftime and outscored the Eagles 22-6 in the third quarter for a 46-37 lead.
East Bladen (47) — Aaliyah Monroe 7, Ellen Battle, Ariel Cromartie 15, T.T. Richardson, Tyliah Freeman 6, Julia Flowers, Sana’a singletary 10, Niyah Wooten 9, Grayce Edwards, Nia McKoy.
North Duplin (57) — Abby Rose 21, Scarlet Dyer, Sophia Davis, Maggie Brown 6, Lilly Fulghum 21, Reagan Herring 6, Camden Cox 1, Natalie Carreon, Abigail Brown 2.
JV BOYS: EAST BLADEN 41, NORTH DUPLIN 37
The Eagles outscored North Duplin 8-3 in the final two minutes for the victory.
Darnell Rouse scored inside with two minutes left that gave East Bladen (2-7, 2-0 Carolina) at 35-34 lead. Fox Sutton followed with a 3-pointer and Lakota Schmale scored off a steal for a 40-34 lead with 58 seconds remaining.
East Bladen (41) — Omar Powell 3, Ishaq Algozy 5, Prince Powell, Joel Lewis, Fox Sutton 3, Benjamin Lent 2, Lakota Schmale 11, Darnell Rouse 16, Tyrone Freeman 1.
North Duplin (37) — Cole Grady 17, Kruz Ortiz 6, Braydon Brock 3, Jason Grandy 5, Jackson Lee 6.
JV GIRLS: PURNELL SWETT 43, EAST BLADEN 18
In Elizabethtown, Delhi Chavis scored 10 points as the Rams won in the non-conference game. Purnell Swett held a 13-6 lead after the first quarter and outscored the Eagles 15-0 in the fourth quarter.
Kaylynn Chambers scored six points for East Bladen (5-3).
Purnell Swett (43) — Kynnadi McNeill 9, Rylee Chavis 5, Delhi Chavis 10, Audrinna Hunt 3, Ava Barefoot 6, Ava Locklear 5, Miley Locklear 1, Aveh Locklear 1, Gigi Jones 3.
East Bladen (18) — Kaylynn Chambers 6, Zariyah Riddy 4, Angelina Jones, Jenniyah Jones, Kylee Spaulding, Kayla Hall 4, Paris Jenkins 4, Lila Young.
MIDDLE SCHOOL BOYS: SAMPSON 48, EMEREAU: BLADEN 28
In Clinton, Jayden Owens scored 20 points as Sampson pulled away in the second half to beat Emereau: Bladen. The Aviators (3-3) led 14-7 at half, but were outscored 41-14 in the second half.
“Our defense played outstanding (in the first half),” Emereau coach Dom Whittington said. “It set the tone early and kept Sampson out of rhythm. To put that into perspective, the last time we played Sampson we barely scored 10 points and they put up 31 on us. We’ve never beaten Sampson Middle, and we’ve never led them in a quarter, so winning the first two quarters was a big win for our program and shows we are clearly heading in the right direction. The second half told a different story. You could tell we were starting to wear down.
“I’m proud of this group. The effort, hustle, and fight were there. The boys got frustrated at times, but they never gave up and continued to play through adversity until the final buzzer. This game showed us exactly what we’re capable of when we put together strong quarters. Now, the challenge is putting four good quarters together,” Whittington said.
Emereau: Bladen (28) — Eli Dicicco, Noah Ray, Jayden Bordeaux 13, Colt Lewis 2, Cayden Smith 6, Grayson Leggett 2, Ryker Britt 2, Mason Sasser, Cooper Padrick 3, Tony Robinson, Ryker Dowless, Saeed McElveen.
Sampson (48) — Tymorion Stader 13, Julius Carpenter 3, Greyson Dudley 6, Jayden Owens 20, Hampton Bass 4, Cameron Montgomery 2.
MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS: SAMPSON 17, EMEREAU: BLADEN 7
In Clinton, Emereau: Bladen led 4-0 after the first quarter on baskets by Keri Burgess and Harper Allen, but Sampson rallied for the victory. The Aviators are 3-3.
Emereau: Bladen (7) — Khloe Campbell 2, Holly McMillan, Keri Burgess 2, Harper Allen 3, Laikyn Rogerson, Rylie Dowless, Carly Rorich, Alaina Wilkens, Leila Ward.
Sampson (17) — Paris Brown 4, Paige Bryant 2, Paisley Bryant 1, Tatum McNair 3, Journee Williams 3, Iyonna Wilson 4.
TUESDAY, JAN. 6
HIGH SCHOOL
Basketball
Varsity boys: East Bladen 43, at North Duplin 36
Varsity girls: North Duplin 57, East Bladen 47
JV boys: East Bladen 41, North Duplin 37
JV girls: Purnell Swett43, East Bladen 18
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Basketball
Boys: Sampson 48, Emereau Bladen 28
Girls: Sampson 17, Emereau Bladen 7
WEDNESDAY, JAN. 7
No games scheduled
THURSDAY, JAN. 8
HIGH SCHOOL
Basketball
South Columbus at East Bladen, JV girls 4 p.m., JV boys 5:15 p.m., Varsity girls 6 p.m., Varsity boys 7:30 p.m.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Basketball
Midway vs. Emereau Bladen at Elizabethtown Baptist Church, Girls 4 p.m.; Boys 5:15 p.m.
FRIDAY, JAN. 9
HIGH SCHOOL
Basketball
West Bladen at Whiteville, JV girls 4 p.m., JV boys 5 p.m., Varsity girls 6 p.m., Varsity boys 7:30 p.m.
East Bladen at West Columbus, JV boys 5:15 p.m., Varsity girls 6 p.m., Varsity boys 7:30 p.m.
SATURDAY, JAN. 10
RECREATION
Basketball
Lil Knights at West Bladen High gym
College
UNC vs. Wake Forest, 9:25 a.m.
Duke vs. N.C. State, 10 a.m.
NBA
Thunder vs. Lakers, 9:25 a.m.
Spurs vs. Knicks, 10 a.m.