FAIRMONT – Senior Javon Morris poured in 26 points as Fairmont capitalized on 23 East Bladen turnovers to claim a 47-37 Three Rivers Conference boys basketball victory over the Eagles Monday night.
The Eagles started strong as senior Bryon Bowen flipped in a pair of runners, and sophmore Javant McDowell muscled in a rebound for an early 6-2 lead. McDowell drove for a reverse lay-up, and senior Greyson Heustess drained a 3-point shot then turned a Bowen assist into a lay-up and a 13-6 lead.
However after McDowell went to the bench with his third foul, Fairmont’s Valentino Cruz drove for a 3-point play, and Kaheem Pittman bombed in a 3-point shot to pull the Tornadoes within 13-12 at the quarter break.
Morris hit from 14 feet then scored twice in transition as Fairmont grabbed a 19-14 lead. Junior Kobe Davis flipped in a runner and tapped in 2 rebounds to pad the margin to 25-14. Junior Juwan Baldwin buried a 3-point shot to pull East within 25-17 at halftime.
A Cruz lay-up pushed the margin to 27-17, but McDowell spun down the lane for a basket then put back a rebound. Heustess, McDowell and Keshaun Davis raced for lay-ups off of Tornado turnovers. A Davis pass led to a McDowell lay-up that edged the Eagles ahead 29-27 midway the period.
A pair of rebound baskets and a lay-up by Morris put the Tornadoes up 33-29. Davis grabbed a rebound and sprinted end-to-end for a lay-in that pulled the Eagles to within 33-31. A follow shot by Thomas Simms gave Fairmont a 35-31 lead at the quarter break.
Keshaun Davis drove for a lay-up that trimmed the Tornado lead to 36-33 with 5:53 on the clock. Bowen flew down the baseline for a lay-up that kept East within 40-35 midway the final period. Morris scored the final 7 Fairmont points during a 7-2 closing run.
“Same ole, same ole,” said Eagle Coach Kenzil McCall. “Too many turnovers and a lack of leadership. This was a tough one. We should have beat that team.”
Despite sitting out 11 minutes of the first half with foul trouble, McDowell just missed a double-double with 12 points and 9 rebounds. Heustess finished with 9 points, and Keshaun Davis added 7 points and 4 rebounds.
Bowen followed with 6 points and 3 rebounds. Senior Robbie Cooley grabbed 5 rebounds and blocked 3 shots for East, and junior Tyshawn Berkeley grabbed 6 rebounds.
The Eagles, now 1-3 in league play, will host West Columbus Wednesday night.
East Bladen 13 4 14 6 – 37
Fairmont 12 13 10 12 – 47
EAST BLADEN (37) – Keshaun Davis 7, Pierce Melvin, Greyson Heustess 9, Bryon Bowen 6, Javant McDowell 12, Juwan Baldwin 3, Freddy Wooten, Darrell Banks, Robbie Cooley, Tyshawn Berkeley, Corey McKoy.
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