By DAN BISER
Sports Editor

LAKE WACCAMAW – The defending Waccamaw 1A-2A Conference champion East Columbus Gators held the lead all the way Tuesday night in opening their 2006-07 season with a 66-52 boys basketball victory over the visiting East Bladen Eagles.

“We got off to a strong start, and except for a few lapses in our overall intensity, it was a pretty good showing for the first time out,” said Clarence Ganus, who was making his debut as Gator head coach.

Senior Jerry Moore led the Gators with 20 points and senior B.J. Patrick had 17.

“We’re counting on Jerry and B.J. for a lot of our leadership this year,” Ganus said. “They played key roles in helping the team win the conference championship last year, and we need even more consistent play from them as seniors.”

Point guard K.C. Clark and center Jermaine Waddell each scored nine points for the Gators.

East Bladen’s Jeffrey Bryant scored 28 points for the East Bladen squad of first-year head coach Larry Williams, which played without several returning players who are still playing football for the unbeaten EBHS football squad. Bryant’s all-around play helped the Eagles rally back from a 26-16 halftime deficit to pull within three points at the end of the third quarter.

East Columbus led 16-4 after one quarter.

But East Columbus went on an 11-1 run to open the final quarter and scored 28 points to clinch the win.

The Gators posted a 19-6 record last under Mark Bridgers. Bridgers became ECHS principal this year.

In the girls game, the defending Southeastern 1A-2A Conference defending champion East Bladen squad placed four players in double figures in a 73-58 victory over the Lady Gators.

East Bladen led 31-26 at halftime but pulled away by opening the second half with a 14- run. Jatoya Kemp had 17 points to lead Coach Patty Evers’ East Bladen team. Deidre Hall followed with 16 points, followed by Deja Powell with 15 and Tatiana Mason with 10.

East Columbus’ Taquanna Bress scored a career-high 25 points. Meagan Lennon had 16 points, followed by Jasmine Young with 11.

“We made too many turnovers and missed too many easy shots,” said ECHS coach Karlyn Stephens, who guided the team to a runnerup finish in the Waccamaw Conference and a 19-7 record last season. “We played hard against a good team tonight. We’re going to get better.”

GIRLS GAME

EAST BLADEN (73); McKenzie Taylor 2, Deja Powell 15, Kayla McKoy 2, Erin Woodruff 4, , Jatoya Kemp 16. Kayla Davis 17, TatianaMason 3, Latajah Melvin 10.

EAST COLUMBUS (58): Taquanna Bress 25, Tabitha Moore 2, Meagan Lennon 16, Jasmine Young 11, Ashley Bracey 4.

BOYS GAME

EAST BLADEN (53): Jeffrey Bryant 28, R Cromartie 7, Jahroe Cromartie 7, Britt Huggins 4, Terry Drummond 2, James Burney 2, Maurice Cromartie 2.

EAST COLUMBUS (66): K.C. Clark 9, Jim Freeman 6, Jermaine Waddell 9, B.J. Patrick 17, Jerry Moore 20, Brandon Mitcehell 2, Anthony Fields 3.