Patty Evers back as East Bladen girls basketball coach

ELIZABETHTOWN, N.C. (WWAY) — Wednesday marks the beginning of high school basketball practice in North Carolina, in which one program welcomes back a familiar face even though she never really left.

After initially deciding to step down as the head coach of the East Bladen girls earlier this year, Patty Evers chose to return for a 25th season to lead the Eagles.

Evers says she made the decision to come back because she feels being around the athletes is where she belongs.

(Photo: Colton Emswiler/WWAY)

The program made the state title game last season, but Evers says the team is currently rebuilding. However, they will have four seniors this year. Double what they had when they earned a spot in Winston-Salem.

“That helps,” Evers said. “Having three starters back and we pulled a couple up from JV last year. They know what the standard is, they know what the expectations are for our program. Being in the final four the year before, we had a lot of expectations coming in. We were expected to get back and that’s a lot of stress on a coach, too.”

The girls who are back say they were excited Evers opted to return to the court that bears her name. Still feeling the highs of making a deep playoff run that some doubted they could pull off.

(Photo: Colton Emswiler/WWAY)

“It was a good feeling learning that we could do more,” senior guard Ariel Cromartie said. “Just showing everybody and proving them wrong that we could make it. Just hard work and dedication, showing that we want it more than anything.”

The regular season in North Carolina begins November 14.