TABOR CITY – Senior Riley Hewett keyed an early 16-4 run that propelled South Columbus to a 58-42 Three Rivers Conference boys basketball victory over West Bladen Tuesday night.
After Knight senior Tyre Boykin popped in a baseline jumper to start the game, Hewett drilled in a trio of 3-point shots during a 16-2 spurt. The Stallions connected on seven 3-point shots in the game.
Boykin nailed a 12-footer, and junior ShyRon Adams flipped in a leaner. Boykin drilled a 3-point shot and a corner jumper to keep the Knights within 20-11 at the quarter break.
Boykin canned 2 free throws, Adams sent a pass to senior Nijeah McKoy for a lay-up, and senior Tra’shawn Ballard powered in a rebound to pull West Bladen to within 25-17 at the 5:01 mark.
Senior Jaquan Jordan halted the Knight rally with a 3-point bomb. Freshman Gary Parker powered in a lay-up, and Boykin sank 3 free throws to keep West within 36-22 at halftime.
A Ballard follow shot, 2 lay-ups and a free throw by Boykin and a 12-foot jumper from junior Donovan Stone trimmed the margin to 43-31 at the third quarter break.
Boykin pumped in a 12-footer and drove for 2 lay-ups and a free throw in the final period. Stone and Parker drove for lay-ups but the Knights never got closer than 10 points in the fourth quarter.
“We just weren’t tough enough in the first half,” said Knight Coach Travis Pait. “I am very proud of the way we competed in the second half. This time of the year you want to see if the guys are going to fight, and they really did in the second half.”
Boykin racked up 24 points and 5 rebounds to lead the Knights. Stone, Parker, Ballard and Adams scored 4 points each. Ballard pulled down 8 rebounds, and senior Nolan Bryant snared 4 rebounds.
Jaquan Jordan topped the Stallion scoring with 13 points. Hewett totaled 12 points on four 3-point shots, and center Cameron Etheridge dropped in 10 points.
The Knights, now 5-16, will host St. Pauls Wednesday night.
West Bladen 11 11 9 11- 42
South Columbus 20 16 7 15 – 58
West Bladen (42) – Gary Parker 4, Shy’Ron Adams 4, Tyre Boykin 24, Jadacus Register, Donovan Stone 4, Deonte Lacy, Tra’shawn Ballard 4, Nijeah McKoy 2, Xayvon Davis, Nolan Bryant.
South Columbus (58) –Aveon Bellamy 6, Riley Hewett 12, Jaquan Jordan 13, Rajon Graham 2, Jordan Johnson 4, Treshawn Grate 3, Riley Gore, Capt’n Jordan 4, E. J. Tisdale, Kevin Hewett 2, Cameron Ethridge 10, Cody Ethridge 2.
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