BLADENBORO – Fairmont’s pressure defense turned 13 West Bladen second-period turnovers into a 26-4 spurt that propelled the Tornadoes to a 65-34 victory in the Three Rivers Conference boys basketball opener for both teams.
Senior Tyre Boykin sank 3 of 4 free throws then popped in a 15-foot fade-away for an early 5-0 Knight lead. Junior Shy’Ron Adams drove for a lay-up then sent a pass to senior Nolan Bryant who tossed in a baseline shot to boost the West lead to 9-2 with 1:30 left in the period.
Kobe Davis slammed in a dunk and hit a free throw to pull Fairmont to within 9-5 at the quarter break. Chandler McNeill drained a trio of 3-point shots, and Tyrese Bradley worked inside for a trio of baskets as the Tornado lead grew to 31-13 at halftime.
Boykin threw in a dunk and canned 2 free throws to start the second half, and Adams put back a rebound and drove for a lay-up as the Knights rallied to within 35-21. However the Tornadoes bombed in four 3-point shots to push the lead back to 48-23 at the next quarter break.
“We knew coming in that we couldn’t turn the ball over and we did,” said Knight Coach Travis Pait. “Tyre and Shy’Ron both went out in the second quarter and that made it tough. Our defense was fine, our offense will be okay, but our ball-handling has got to get better.”
Boykin cashed in 6 free throws and drove for a pair of baskets in the final quarter to finish with 23 points for the Knights. Adams added 6 points. Nijeah McKoy and Josh Lewis grabbed 6 rebounds each, and Jadacus Register pulled down 5 rebounds.
Bradley led the Tornadoes with 12 points, and McNeill and Thomas Simms totaled 11 points each. Davis finished with 9 points.
The Knights, now 1-1, will host Union on Wednesday night.
Fairmont 5 26 17 17 – 65
West Bladen 9 4 10 11 – 34
FAIRMONT (65) – Shykeem Smith, Dewayne McCormick 4, Jakeem Moore 7, Chandler McNeill 11, Tyrese Bradley 12, Tyrese Pittman 5, Sharron Wilson 4, Javian Manning, Kobe Davis 9, Saquan Singletary 2,Dazon Ellerby, Kadeem Leonard, Thomas Simms 11.
WEST BLADEN (34) – Josh Lewis, Gary Parker, Shy’Ron Adams 6, Tyre Boykin 23, Jadacus Register 1, Donovan Stone, Tra’shawn Ballard, T.J. Smith, Nijeah McKoy 2, Xayvon Davis, Nolan Bryant 2.
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