By DAN BISER

LAKE WACCAMAW – The East Columbus High boys basketball team is at the midway point of the Waccamaw 1A-2A Conference basketball race with a 6-0 record and a two-game lead. (See conference standings on 2B).

Despite the strongest boys basketball conference start in school history, Gator coach Mark Bridgers is being as cautious as ever.

“There’s still a long way to go,” said Bridgers following his Gators’ 59-48 conference victory over visiting South Brunswick Friday. “We’ve managed to win all our conference games so far but we’re going to have to be even sharper when we play everybody the second time through.

“What I’m pleased with the most is that our guys have stayed with it and played hard,” Bridgers said. “Even on nights when we haven’t played particularly well, they have hung in there and battled to the end.”

Bridgers was able give all of his players plenty of playing time in Friday’s game as the Gators jumped to a 21-8 first-quarter lead and controlled the game the rest of the way.

“We’re working at developing more depth and all our players got some good minutes in this one,” Bridgers said. “I thought we did pretty well against a much-improved South Brunswick team.”

Cameron Spears scored 14 points and Jerry Moore tallied 12 for the Gators, who led 34-20 at the half as they put their season record at 11-5. Eight East Columbus players scored at least six points.

South Brunswick, which slipped to 1-5 in conference and 2-13 for the season, got a game-high 20 points from Anthony Gilbert.

The East Columbus girls stormed to a 62-22 win over the Lady Cougars to improve their conference record to 4-2 and season record to 12-4.

Candra Powell scored 18 points for Coach Karlyn Stephens’ ECHS squad. T.T. Bennett followed with 11 and Megan Lennon had 10. The Lady Gators held the South Brunswick team to a total six field goals.

East Columbus held a 26-12 halftime lead.

Talisha Green was high scorer for South Brunswick 10 points.

GIRLS GAME
S. Brunswick 6 6 8 2 - 22
E. Columbus 16 10 19 17 - 62

SOUTH BRUNSWICK (22): Adams 6, Burghoffer 2, Deveney 2, Green 10. Ferguson 2.
EAST COLUMBUS (62): Moore 4, Powell 18, Bress 4, Young 8, Malpass 6, Bennett 11, Lennon 10, Bryant 1.

BOYS GAME
S. Brunswick 8 12 6 22 - 48
E. Columbus 21 13 9 16 - 59

SOUTH BRUNSWICK (48): Anderson 7, Whitman 2, Peaches 2, Gilbert 20, Hall 7, Randolf 2, Miller 2, Hines 6.

EAST COLUMBUS (59): Moore 12, Patrick 8, Hampton 7, Spears 14, Baldwin 6, Freeman 6, Waddell 6.