LAKE WACCAMAW – A 15-8 closing run by East Bladen came up short Tuesday night as East Columbus escaped with a 58-53 victory over the Lady Eagles in the battle for the top spot in the Waccamaw Conference girls’ basketball standings.

The Lady Gators edged ahead of East Bladen with the win improving to 7-1 in league play. Coach Patty Evers’ Lady Eagles suffered their 1st conference loss and dropped to 6-1. East Bladen is 14-3 overall and can move into a tie for the top spot Wednesday night when they host West Columbus. East Columbus is 14-1 overall.

The Lady Gators had extended their lead to 50-38 with 5:01 remaining, but junior Iveonna “NeNe” Ward sank 2 free throws and junior Laila Smith made one, before Ward stole the ball and nailed a 3-point shot to slice the margin to 54-44 with 3:23 left.

Laila Smith popped in a pair of baskets as the Lady Eagles trimmed the deficit to 56-49 with 1:55 on the clock. Ward and freshman Taylor Dowless tossed in a basket each, but East Columbus held on.

Ward and Laila Smith claimed game scoring honors with 21 points each. Sophomore Ariel Cromartie netted 5 points, and sophomore Niyah Wooten added 4.

Malia Graham, a 5-11 sophomore, scored 5 of her team-high 18 points in the final period for the Lady Gators. Senior Kaley Mitchell and junior Malayah Hines pumped in 12 points each for East Columbus. Junior Rylie Graham tallied 9 points.

Six different players scored as the home team edged ahead 12-11 in the 1st quarter. Laila Smith fired in a 3-point shot and 2 other baskets to keep the Lady Eagles close. Ward and Cromartie threw in a basket each in the period.

Three baskets by Hines and 3-point shots by Rylie Graham and Kaley Mitchell sparked East Columbus to a 30-18 halftime lead. Laila Smith attacked the paint for 2 baskets and a free throw, and Wooten pumped in a basket in the quarter for East Bladen.

Ward blistered the nets with a pair of 3-point shots and 3 other baskets in the 3rd quarter. Laila Smith cashed in 2 free throws and a basket, and Wooten tacked on a basket as East Bladen closed the gap to 47-38. Malia Graham kept the Lady Gators on top with 9 points in the period.

East Bladen       11 7 21 14- 53
East Columbus 12 18 17 11 -58

East Bladen (53) – Iveonna “NeNe” Ward 21, Asliyah Monroe, Ariel Cromartie 5, Cabria Baldwin, Zoe Smith, Taylor Dowless 2, Laila Smith 21, Niyah Wooten 4.

East Columbus (58) – Malayah Hines 12, Rylie Graham 9, Malia Graham 18, Chynna Patrick 3, Kaley Mitchell 12, Destiny Mitchell 4, Shamiah Johnson.

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