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By John Clark

BLADENBORO – West Bladen’s Knights were way up; then they were down. But Chase Williams and Hezekiah Adams made key defensive plays and key free throws in the final minutes as the Knights won the Bladen Offroad Christmas Tournament 62-57 over North Brunswick Saturday night.

The Knights rode a 21-7 3rd quarter surge to a 53-37 lead, and the packed house at ‘The Castle’ was rocking and dancing in the aisles during the quarter break. However, the visiting Scorpions forced 7 turnovers during a 20-3 run and edged ahead 57-56 on Malakhi Daniels 3-pointer with 1:19 remaining.

Williams blocked a Scorpion shot – one of his 4 blocked shots in the quarter – then sank 2 free throws with 58 seconds left to vault West in front 58-57. Williams blocked another shot, and Jackson Pait snared the deflection.

Adams added 2 free throws at the 29 second mark then leaped to intercept a North pass moments later. He was fouled and tacked on 2 more free throws with 8 seconds left to ice the win.

Williams scored 22 of his 24 points in the 1st half and filled up the stat sheet with 7 rebounds, 5 blocked shots, 4 assists and 2 steals. The 6-8 junior scored 71 points, grabbed 27 rebounds in the tournament and was named the winner of the Sayaun Dent Most Valuable Player Award.

Adams finished with 16 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists and 3 steals. The speedy junior made all 8 of his foul shots and was named to the All-Tournament Team.

“It was a good win. The kids played hard. They made shots. They made plays,” said Knight Coach Travis Pait. “That is a really good 3A team we played. Chase scoring so many early was by design. We wanted to force them to adjust their defense on him and free up more space for our guards.”

Coach Pait continued, “Hezi has really worked on his free throw shooting the last 3 weeks and it showed tonight. I am so proud of him. The great thing about Hezi is he doesn’t sulk. If he makes a mistake, he just keeps playing.”

Pait, a sophomore, bombed in four 3-point shots and tallied 14 points and 2 assists. Sophomore Tylik McCall followed with 8 points and 5 rebounds. Senior Andre Moore grabbed 6 rebounds and dished out 2 assists.

Daniels, a senior, led the Scorpion scoring with 18 points and was also named to the All-Tournament Team. Senior Ronnie Ballard tossed in 17 points, and senior Terry Hood added 9 points.

Williams converted a Moore assist into a lay-up to start the game then dropped in a jump-hook, a lay-up and 3 free throws to put West up 9-2. A pair of Daniels’ 3-point baskets and 2 baskets from Ballard rallied North into a 12-11 lead. Williams turned feeds from Adams and Pait into lay-ups, and Adams drove for a lay-up to keep West even at 17-17.

In the 2nd period, Williams put back a rebound, buried a 3-point shot and hooked in a 6-footer. Adams banked in a runner, and Pait drained a long 3-pointer then swished another 3-pointer for a 32-30 Knight lead at halftime. Two baskets each from Hood and Ballard kept North close.

Williams delivered an assist to Adams for a lay-up to begin the 2nd half. McCall drilled in a 3-pointer, and Pait drove for a lay-up then nailed a long 3-ball. Adams stole the ball and dashed for a lay-up then cashed in 4 straight free throws. McCall netted 2 foul shots then beat the buzzer with a 3-ball that boosted the Knight lead to 53-37.

A Pait 3-pointer accounted for the only Knight points in the first 7 minutes of the final period. Daniels sparked the 20-3 Scorpion run with 7 points. Ballard chipped in with 6 points and Hood added 5 points.

The Knights improved to 9-1 and will host West Columbus Tuesday night. North Brunswick, now 10-2, will host South Brunswick Friday night.

North Brunswick 17 13 7 20 — 57
West Bladen 17 15 21 9 — 62

North Brunswick (57) — Aaron Smith, Terry Hood 9, Malakhi Daniels 18, Caleb Bernard 7, Ronnie Ballard 17, Matthew McKenny, Eric Mosley 2, Gavin Lindbert 2, Kane Jennette 2, Jordan Escoffery, Kamonte Carter.

West Bladen (62) — Jackson Pait 14, Hezekiah Adams 16, Tylik McCall 8, Kendell Lessane, Andre Moore, Ty’Leak Ballard, Chase Williams 24.