BLADENBORO – Gabriel Washington banked in a 10-foot runner with 20 seconds left that lifted Fairmont to a 62-60 overtime victory over West Bladen Wednesday night in Southeastern Athletic Conference boys’ basketball action.
Knight freshman Chase Williams grabbed an offensive rebound and tossed in a 4-foot turn-around with 5 seconds remaining in regulation that knotted the score 55-55 and sent the game to overtime.
Ty’rus Morris follow shot gave the Tornadoes a 59-56 lead in overtime, but senior Javonta Matthews sank 2 free throws, and senior Josiah Brown raced to the rim for a transition lay-up and a 60-59 West lead with 28 seconds on the clock.
After Washington’s go-ahead hoop, Fairmont’s Cameron Sweat reached over a Knight rebounder to tap the ball away then later tacked on a free throw for the final margin. Washington led the Tornadoes with 14 points, Sweat followed with 10 points, and Walker Chavis added 8.
Sophomore Malachi Allen topped the Knight scoring with 12 points and captured 9 rebounds. Sophomore Landon Stanley fired in 10 points, and Williams racked up 9 points and 7 rebounds. Freshman Hezekiah Adams and Matthews finished with 8 points each. Brown netted 7 points. Adams and junior Gary Parker pulled down 5 rebounds each, and Matthews had 4 rebounds.
Parker made a free throw, and Allen lobbed an in-bounds pass to Williams for a lay-up and a quick 3-0 West lead. Allen threw in a runner and a foul shot, and Adams and Matthews cashed in 2 free throws each. Brown beat the press for a basket and a 12-2 lead. Williams made 2 free throws, then hooked in a turn-around for a 16-3 Knight lead at the quarter break.
Fairmont rallied with a pair of Washington lay-ups off turnovers to whittle the margin to 16-10. Brown beat the Tornado press again for a 3-point play, and Parker stole the ball and sprinted for a lay-in and a 21-11 West lead.
Sweat rallied the Tornadoes with a 3-ball and a floater, and Jacob Hunt muscled in a pair of rebounds to slice the lead to 21-20. Stanley banked in a 10-footer to snap the run, and Allen buried a 3-ball and 4 straight free throws. Stanley nailed a 3-pointer with 4 seconds left to push the Knight lead back to 33-22 at halftime.
Stanley drained a 3-point shot, and Adams stretched the lead to 38-24 with a follow shot at the 6:10 mark of the 3rd period. Washington dropped in a pair of lay-ups as Fairmont capitalized on 5 Knight turnovers during a 15-0 run that vaulted the visitors ahead 39-38.
Parker halted the run with a lay-up, Matthews flipped in a runner and Stanley pumped in a 16-footer to put West in front 44-40. However, 3-point baskets by Washington and Chavis evened the score 46-46 at the quarter break.
A pair of Savonte McKeithan hoops gave Fairmont a 52-47 lead with 4:18 left. Allen pulled up for an elbow jumper, Stanley stole the ball and sprinted for a lay-in and Matthews powered in a rebound for a 53-52 Knight lead at the 1:20 mark.
Tyrek Thompson hurled in a driving leaner as he was falling down in the lane for a 54-53 Tornado lead, before Williams’ follow sent the game to overtime.
“Too many turnovers (25)” said Knight Coach Travis Pait. “We have had double-digit leads in six of our losses.” West Bladen held a 35-25 advantage on the boards and shot 74% from the foul line (17-23).
The Knights, now 8-10, will host Red Springs Thursday night, while Fairmont, 4-0 in SAC-7 play, will visit East Bladen Thursday night. Both of those games were moved up from Friday due to the threat of inclement weather.
Fairmont 3 19 24 9 7–62
West Bladen 16 17 13 9 5 -60
Fairmont (62) – Cameron Sweat 10, Gabriel Washington 14, Savonte McKeithan 7, Tyrek Thompson 6, Ty’rus Morris 7, Walker Chavis 8, John Poe 3, Derrick Baker, Jacob Hunt 7.
West Bladen (60) – Hezekiah Adams 8, Josiah Brown 7, Landon Stanley 10, Malachi Allen 12, Keshawn Ballard 1, Gary Parker 5, Javonta Matthews 8, Chase Williams 9, Travail Baldwin.
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