Varsity Girls Basketball: West Bladen Girls 34, West Columbus 23

BLADENBORO, NC — Senior Kali Allen tossed in a game-high 11 points, and senior Tah’lela Bethea grabbed 15 rebounds as West Bladen survived a good deal of adversity Friday night to claim a 34-23 non-conference girls basketball victory over West Columbus.

The Lady Knights were missing 2 regulars before the game started – one due to an injury suffered in an automobile accident on the way to the game.

Two more Lady Knights fouled out in the 2nd half, another starting guard was injured in the final quarter, and 2 more had 4 fouls when the game ended. West Bladen was whistled for 23 fouls in the game.

Sophomore Amiya McCarty who was injured in the final quarter finished with 8 points and 2 steals. Bethea tallied 6 points, Allen contributed 3 assists and freshman Abigail Dew had 3 steals. 

Allen buried a 3-point shot to start the game, and freshman Hadley Dove sank a free throw then stole the ball and dashed for a lay-up and a 6-0 lead. McCarty stole the ball and raced for a lay-up that upped the count to 8-0. 

Makayla Jennings rallied the Lady Vikings with a 3-point basket and a free throw, and Demya Powell canned 2 free throws to trim the margin to 8-6.

Dove flipped an assist while lying on the floor to Bethea for a lay-up. Bethea sent a pass to McCarty for a lay-up, and Allen nailed a 3-point shot that grew the Lady Knight to lead to 15-9 at halftime. 

Allen delivered an assist to Bethea for a lay-up to begin the 2nd half then cashed in 2 free throws for a 19-12 Lady Knight lead.

Dew tacked on a free throw, before freshman Haley Taylor dropped in a lay-up off an Allen assist. Two more Allen free throws and one by Dew padded the lead to 25-16 at the quarter break. 

McCarty opened the final period with a lay-up then stole the ball and dashed for another lay-up and a 29-16 lead.

Taylor banged in a rebound basket, and Allen sent another assist to Bethea for a basket. Another Allen free throw closed out the Lady Knight scoring.

Iyana Lowery led the Lady Viking scoring, and Powell and Jennings followed with 5 points each. 

Coach Alvin Thompson’s Lady Knights (1-2) notched their first win of the season and will host East Columbus on December 2nd. 

West Columbus (23) – Makayla Jennings 5, Iyana Lowery 11, Alaina Spencer 2, Demya Powell 5, Brissa Matheson, India Baxley, Zakiya Avant. 

West Bladen (34) - Hadley Dove 3, Amiya McCarty 8, Haley Taylor 4, Abigail Dew 2, Saniya Martin, Harmony Richardson, Kali Allen 11, Tah’lela Bethea 6.

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Varsity Girls Basketball: West Bladen Girls 34, West Columbus 23