Lady Eagles Soar Past #2 Wilson Prep, Advance to Regional Semifinals vs #6 North Duplin

Wilson, NC - The East Bladen Lady Eagles punched their ticket to the Regional Semifinals in dominant fashion Tuesday night, rolling past #2 seed Wilson Prep with a convincing 68-43 victory.

The win keeps the #7 seed Lady Eagles’ postseason run alive, setting up a showdown with #6 North Duplin on Friday — game time still to be determined.

Despite the final score, the night didn’t start exactly how East Bladen had planned.

Wilson Prep opened with a quick 7-1 lead but if there were any nerves, they didn’t last long.

“We never looked back after that,” said East Bladen head coach Patty Evers. “The girls settled down and held them to just 12 points in the first half. Everyone played good and played confident. I’m so proud of this team.”

Once East Bladen found its rhythm, there was no stopping them.

NeNe Ward set the tone early, slicing through the Wilson Prep defense for tough layups and knocking down shots from mid-range. She poured in a game-high 25 points, consistently pushing the tempo and creating opportunities for her teammates.

By the end of the first quarter, East Bladen had erupted for a 28-10 lead. That opening frame set the tone for the rest of the night.

Ariel Cromartie gave the Lady Eagles a powerful inside presence, cleaning up on the boards and adding 18 points of her own.

Between Ward and Cromartie, the duo combined for 43 points

East Bladen’s offensive explosion didn’t come from just one or two players, though. Laila Smith stepped up with 9 key points, while Niyah Wooten added 8 of her own, keeping the pressure on Wilson Prep every trip down the floor.

Aaliyah Monroe and Cabria Baldwin chipped in 3 points apiece, and Taylor Dowless rounded out the scoring with 2 points in a total team effort.

On the defensive side, East Bladen was relentless, especially in the first half. By halftime, Wilson Prep had only managed to score 12 points, struggling to find open looks against the Eagles’ swarming defense.

Even when Wilson Prep’s Kaiden Brown (16 points) and Paris Best (11 points) found some rhythm late in the game, the Lady Eagles’ lead was far too big to overcome.

Evers credited the team’s senior leadership for keeping everyone focused through the ups and downs of the night.

“Our seniors led the way and made sure the focus was on,” Evers said. “Thankful for the fans, parents, and administration for their support. The girls are having fun, and that’s what it’s all about.”

With the win, East Bladen advances to the Regional Semifinals, where they’ll face off against North Duplin.

As the Lady Eagles continue their playoff journey, they’ll do so with confidence — and a growing belief that this team has what it takes to keep flying high.

East Bladen 28 18 16 6 - 68

Wilson Prep 10 2 13 18 - 43

East Bladen (68) - Nene Ward 25, Nevaeh Brown, Aaliyah Monroe 3, Ariel Cromartie 18, Cabria Baldwin 3, Tyliah Freeman, Tatum Allen, Taylor Dowless 2, Laila Smith 8, Niyah Wooten 8.

Wilson Prep (43) - Paris Taylor, Janiya Johnson 3, Nakiya Baston 8, Morgan Braswell, Kaiden Brown 16, Paris Best 11, Julisa Artist, Paris Tillery, Madison Riley, Aceona Stancil 6, Jayna Davis, My'Angel Brimage 2.