03/18/2024
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BLADENBORO – Fairmont exploded for 22 first quarter points en route to a 78-51 Three Rivers Conference boys basketball victory over West Bladen Tuesday night.

Transfer Waltay Jackson fired in all 8 of his points in the opening quarter, and guard Tyrese Bradley drained a pair of 3-point shots as the Tornadoes raced to a 22-2 lead.

“We didn’t play that badly in the first half,” said Knight Coach Travis Pait. “We just couldn’t make any shots, and they had as good a half as anyone has had against us this year.”

A Nijeah McKoy lay-up off of a Tyre Boykin assist pulled the Knights to within 3-2 in the first 25 seconds. A Jackson Norris free throw broke the West scoring drought at the 6:41 mark of the second quarter.

Boykin scooped in a lay-up, and senior Jaheim Lesane and Keshawn Lewis bombed in 3-point shots to keep West within 33-11, before a 10-0 Tornado run closed the half.

“We forced them into taking pull-up 3-point shots off the run,” said Coach Pait. “And they made six of them in the first half. Once the run started, they fed off of it, and they outrebounded us.”

Kadeem Leonard who finished with a game-high 20 points led the Tornado second period charge with 7 points, and Kaheem Pittman added a pair of baskets.

Lewis started the third quarter with a lay-up, and Boykin drove for a pair of lay-ups. Sophmore Shyron Adams drilled in a 3-point shot to close the gap to 45-20.

Leonard dropped in 4 baskets in the third period for Fairmont, and Pittman tacked on 5 points.

Senior Cameron Taylor banked in a leaner, and Lewis nailed a 3-point shot then drove for a 3-point play. Boykin flipped in a runner, and Adams turned a Lewis assist into a lay-up to keep West within 61-32 at the quarter break.

Boykin pumped in a 4-footer and a 15-footer to start the final period. Junior Nolan Bryant and Lesane buried 3-point shots. Boykin made 3 free throws, Lesane banked in an 8-footer and hit a free throw, and Adams converted a Boykin assist into a lay-up to close the gap to 70-49.

Boykin finished with 14 points and 5 rebounds to lead the Knights. Lewis followed with 11 points. Lesane totaled 9 points, Adams contributed 7 points, and Taylor tallied 4 points and a team-high 7 rebounds.

Pittman finished with 15 points for Fairmont, and Jakeem Moore followed with 11 points.

“I am proud of the way we battled in the second half,” said Coach Pait. “I can’t fault our effort.”

The Knights will travel to Red Springs Friday night.

Fairmont      22  21  18  17 – 78
West Bladen  2    9  21  19 – 51

WEST BLADEN (51) – Kerron Washington, Jaheim Lesane 9, Shyron Adams 7, Tyre Boykin 14, Trenton Lyons, Keshawn Lewis 11, Eddie Perez-Ortiz, Trashawn Ballard, Drew Harris, Nijeah McKoy 2, Jackson Norris 1, Nolan Bryant 3, Cameron Taylor 4.

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