ROSE HILL – Senior Tyre Boykin fired in 28 points, and West Bladen withstood a cold-shooting third period to defeat Union 61-47 Tuesday night in season-opening non-conference boys basketball action.
Boykin cashed in 2 free throws to start the game, bombed in a pair of long 3-pointers and turned an assist from junior Shy’Ron Adams into a lay-up. Nijeah McKoy netted a lay-up off of an assist from freshman Gary Parker, and senior Nolan Bryant buried a corner 3-ball for a 15-6 Knight lead.
Tall Xayvon Davis began the second period with a pair of rebound baskets and a free throw for the Knights. Boykin drove for a pair of lay-ups – one off of a steal – and drilled in a 3-point shot. Adams drained a 3-pointer then converted a long pass from Boykin into a lay-up and a 34-19 Knight lead at halftime.
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Photos by Kenneth Armstrong
The Knight offense sputtered in the third quarter as Jamal Moore threw in a basket and a 3-pointer and Jayshawn West’s follow shot sliced the Knight lead to 37-31, before Bryant knocked down a key 3-point shot to push the lead back to 40-31 at the quarter break.
McKoy began the final period with a pair of lay-ups off of feeds from Adams and Boykin. Boykin flipped in a tear-drop from 8 feet, and Adams drove for a 3-point play then drilled in a 3-point shot for a 52-33 lead.
Boykin closed out the game with 2 lay-ups, 3 free throws and a follow shot.
“For the first game of the year, we did some good things and some bad things,” said Knight Coach Travis Pait. “We weren’t as good defensively as I had hoped, but I am happy overall. A lot of kids got to play tonight, and we are undefeated going into Thanksgiving.”
Adams totaled 12 points and a team-high 8 rebounds for the winners. McKoy and Bryant had matching totals of 6 points and 5 rebounds each. Davis added 5 points.
Cole Bass led Union with 15 points, and West finished with 12 points.
West Bladen will open Three Rivers Conference play Tuesday at home against Fairmont.
West Bladen 15 19 6 21 – 61
Union 6 13 12 16 – 47
WEST BLADEN (61) – Josh Lewis, Gary Parker, Shy’Ron Adams 12, Tyre Boykin 28, Jadacus Register, Donovan Stone 2, Tra’shawn Ballard 2, Nijeah McKoy 6, Xayvon Davis 5, Nolan Bryant 6.
UNION (47) – Cole Bass 15, Jayshawn West 12, Josheim Jones 1, Josh Harper 4, Kciredor Joyner 2, Jamal Moore 5, Tristen Robinson 2, Javion Faison 2, Jamon Hicks 4.
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