BLADENBORO- Sophomore Hezekiah Adams, freshman Tylik McCall and senior Walter Bealon nailed key 3-point shots in the 2nd half as West Bladen outlasted Dillon Christian 51-44 Friday in the consolation bracket of the Bladen Offroad Christmas Tournament.
Adams drilled in a 3-point shot with 3:50 remaining in the 3rd quarter that put West Bladen ahead to stay at 34-33. Six foot -six sophomore Chase Williams spun in a lay-up off of an assist from junior Andre Moore to keep the lead at 36-33.
After senior Greyson Singletary scored from the lane for the Warriors, Adams sank 2 free throws, and McCall bombed in a 3-point shot to push the Knight lead to 41-35 at the 3rd quarter break.
Dillon sliced the lead to 41-38 on a Ryheim Manning follow shot and a Jacob Hunt free throw. However, Bealon buried a 3-pointer from the top of the key to boost the lead to 44-38 with 5:40 on the clock.
Singletary popped in a baseline runner, but Williams muscled in a follow and added a free throw for a 47-40 West lead with 3:03 left. Moore connected on 2 key free throws with 1:12 remaining to keep the margin at 49-42, and Adams and McCall cashed in free throws in the final 24 seconds.
Adams led the Knights with 14 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals. Williams recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman Jackson Pait knocked down a trio of 3-pointers for 9 points. McCall finished with 7 points and 6 rebounds. Bealon, Pait and Moore grabbed 3 rebounds each, and Moore and Bealon dished out 2 assists each.
“If Tylik and Walter play like that, we are going to win some games,” said Knight Coach Travis Pait. “That was a huge shot that Walter hit. Hezzy (Adams) was solid throughout, and Chase came up big. Jackson kept us in it when we were struggling in the 1st half.”
Singletary, who has Bladen County roots (father Jay and grandparents Jerry and Patsy Singletary), topped all scorers with 17 points and 6 rebounds for Dillon. Hunt posted a double-double of 10 points and 11 rebounds, and Manning, a 6-6 sophomore, finished with 7 points and 8 rebounds.
McCall and Singletary traded 3-point baskets to start the game. Adams stole the ball and raced for a lay-up, but Manning’s basket capped an 8-0 Warrior run for a 12-5 Dillon lead. Senior Gary Parker hooked in a 4-footer, and Adams drove through traffic to close the gap to 14-9 at the quarter break.
Pait rallied the Knights, sinking a pair of 3-point baskets for a 15-14 West lead.Singletary threw in a corner 3-ball as the Warriors went back up 19-15. Williams made a free throw, Adams put back a rebound and Pait drained another 3-ball for a 21-19 West lead.
Thompson Stone’s 3-ball keyed a 7-0 Dillon spurt, but Williams dropped in a short hook shot, and Bealon delivered back-to-back assists to Parker and Adams for lay-ups and a 27-26 Knight lead. Singletary beat the buzzer with a 14-footer for a 28-27 Warrior halftime lead.
Singletary hurled in a 3-pointer to begin the 2nd half, but Williams powered in a lay-up off of a Moore assist then scored on a follow shot to trim the lead to 32-31.
The Knights, now 9-3, will travel to Whiteville Tuesday.
Dillon Christian 14 14 7 9 – 44
West Bladen 9 18 14 10 –51
DILLON CHRISTIAN (44) – Grayson Singletary 17, Ford Richardson 2, Jafarri Jeffries 1, Jackson Outlar 4, Ryheim Manning 7, Gavin Jones, Jacob Hunt 10, Thompson Stone 3.
WEST BLADEN (51) – Jackson Pait 9, Hezekiah Adams 14, Tylik McCall 7, Andre Moore 2, Cornelius Esters, Gary Parker 4, Walter Bealon 3, Chase Williams 12.
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