03/28/2024
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By John Clark

FAIRMONT – Sophomore Hezekiah Adams filled up the stat sheet with 24 points, 7 rebounds and 5 steals to lead West Bladen to a 44-39 Southeastern Athletic Conference boys’ basketball victory over Fairmont Wednesday night.

“It’s always somebody different for us,” said Knight Coach Travis Pait. “Jackson (Pait) had a couple of big scoring games, but tonight it was Hezi (Adams). He kept us in the game in the 1st half with his rebounding, scoring (15 points) and defense.”

The Knights had seen a 40-22 lead get away on Jan. 10th in a 47-44 loss to Fairmont. “I didn’t talk about that game,” said Coach Pait. “But the players remembered. I just told them you know Fairmont will play hard and get up into you with their defense. I thought we played well considering the environment and the physical play.”

West Bladen led 26-18 at halftime. Sophomore center Chase Williams spun to the goal for a lay-up, and Adams flew down the court for another lay-up off a Tornado turnover to pad the lead to 30-18 only 1:08 into the 2nd half.

Six-seven sophomore Josiah Billings ignited a 12-2 Fairmont run with a tap-in that shrunk the Knight lead to 32-30 on junior Issac McKellar’s 10-footer with 7:24 left in the game. Billings had 2 baskets during the spurt, while a Williams follow shot accounted for the only Knight points.

Adams snapped the West scoring drought with a free throw, and Pait delivered an assist to Williams for a lay-up. A Pait free throw pushed the lead to 36-30 with 3:25 on the clock.

Williams banged in a lay-up then dropped off a pass to a cutting Adams for a lay-up and a 40-30 lead with 2:29 remaining. Fairmont closed to within 40-34, but Adams sank 4 straight free throws in the final 1:09 to seal the victory.

Williams finished with 13 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocked shots for the Knights. Senior Gary Parker grabbed 5 rebounds Junior Andre Moore and senior Walter Bealon snared 3 rebounds each, and Moore and Pait had 2 steals each.

“P-nut (Anthony Mitchell) gave us a lift with some minutes in the 1st half,” said Coach Pait. “I am more proud of this win than Monday’s win. Oh, I was more excited Monday because of the opponent (East Bladen), but this is a tough place for us to play and now we have won 2 straight over here.”

The Knights have won 5 of their last 6 games to move within a game of 1st place in the SAC-7 with a 6-3 record. West Bladen, now 15-6 overall, will host Red Springs Friday night. Fairmont, now 3-7 in the SAC-7 and 6-15 overall, will host East Bladen Friday night.

Adams darted for a lay-up off of the opening tap then drove the baseline for another lay-up. Landon Cummings tossed in 2 baskets for Fairmont, and Naishon Davis bombed in a 3-ball for a 7-4 Tornado lead.

Adams turned a runner into a 3-point play then muscled in a follow for a 9-7 Knight lead. Xavier Johnson’s 3-ball vaulted the Tornadoes ahead, but Mitchell buried a long 2-point shot that edged West in front 11-10 at the quarter break.

Williams drove for a lay-up to start the 2nd period. Adams nailed a 3-pointer, and Williams cashed in 3 of 4 foul shots to grow the lead to 19-12. Adams drained another corner 3-ball then stole the ball and dashed for a lay-up and a 24-12 lead.

Pait popped in a turn-around jumper from the elbow, but the Tornadoes turned a pair of Knight turnovers into lay-ups in the last 30 seconds of the half to trim the margin to 26-18.

Cummings topped the Fairmont scoring with 8 points, Johnson followed with 7 points and Billings and Davis tallied 6 points each.

West Bladen  11  15  6  12 – 44
Fairmont        10   8  8  13 – 39

West Bladen (44) – Jackson Pait 3, Hezekiah Adams 24, Tylik McCall 2, Andre Moore, Gary Parker, Walter Bealon, Anthony Mitchell 2, Chase Williams 13.

Fairmont (39) – Gabriel Washington 2, Xavier Johnson 7, Tyrek Thompson 2, Landon Cummings 8, Issac McKellar 2, Naishon Davis 6, Ty’rus Morris 2, Deborian Powell, Damajah McRae 4, Josiah Billings 6.

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