ELIZABETHTOWN — After a delay of nearly a month, the East Bladen boys varsity basketball team will finally got to full strength this week.
With the Eagles going deep in the state’s Class 2-A football playoffs, losing last week to South Columbus in a heart-breaker, East Bladen had six players and a new head coach who had put the basketball season on hold.
Despite that, the team went forward and played two games with a partial varsity/jayvee roster, losing to East Columbus on Nov. 22, 77-34, and then losing to St. Pauls on Nov. 28, 84-47.
Now, however, things are settling in for first-year head coach Kenzil McCall, who takes over for Ken Cross after a 6-16 season in 2015-16 — though seven of those losses were by six points or less and three were by three points or less. The Eagles also finished 3-13 in the Four County Conference.
Lost from last season’s squad were forward J.R. Robinson, 9.8 points per game with 31 three-pointers; forward/center Dayvon Powell, 5.8 points per game; center Chris Cromartie, 4.1 points per game; and Trevor Lloyd.
But the Eagles have a number of athletic and experienced players returning, including senior guard Ethan Hines, senior guard Eian Hines and senior guard Denzel Johnson.
Ethan Hines led East Bladen in scoring last season with 9.9 points per game with 21 three-pointers — followed by Eian Hines with 9.7 points per game and Johnson with 7.6 points per game with a team-leading 41 three-pointers.
Others who are expected to step up this season include senior Demetrius Wooten, sophomore Adonis Avery and senior Derrick Burney.
After a road game at St. Pauls on Thursday, the Eagles are scheduled to open conference play Tuesday when they host Midway at 8 p.m.
W. Curt Vincent can be reached by calling 910-862-4163.