LAKE WACCAMAW- Freshman Tylik McCall buried a trio of 3-point shots during a 22-8 2nd quarter surge that propelled West Bladen to a 48-36 non-conference boys’ basketball season-opening victory over East Columbus Monday night.
A pair of Jaquise Smith baskets gave the Gators an early 4-0 lead, before Knight junior Andre Moore delivered an assist to sophomore Chase Williams for a lay-up. Senior Walter Bealon knocked down a corner 3-ball, and Williams dropped off an assist to sophomore Hezekiah Adams for a lay-up and a 7-4 West lead at the quarter break.
Freshman Jackson Pait nailed a corner 3-ball to start the 2nd period, and McCall drilled in a 3-pointer from the opposite corner. A Williams free throw and another McCall 3-ball stretched the lead to 17-4.
Williams, a 6-7 center, sent another assist to Adams for a lay-up then banged in a transition lay-up. Senior Anthony Mitchell sank 2 free throws, and Pait assisted on a Williams lay-up. McCall drilled in another 3-ball, was fouled and completed the 4-point play for a 29-12 West halftime lead.
Two Williams’ free throws and another 3-point basket from Bealon kept the margin at 34-18, before Jaden Troy’s 3-ball ignited a 9-1 Gator spurt that closed the gap to 35-27 at the quarter break.
Adams popped in an elbow jumper to begin the final period, but Troy flipped in a basket and 2 foul shots to bring East to within 37-31 with 5:15 left. Moore’s in-bounds pass to a cutting McCall for a lay-up halted the rally.
The Knights connected on 9 of 11 free throws in the final 4:16 led by Pait who was a perfect 6 of 6 from the line, and Williams who made 3 of 4. For the game West Bladen cashed in 16 of 22 free throws.
“I will take it,” said Knight Coach Travis Pait. “It was a good first win. The kids played hard and did what we asked them to do.”
McCall and Williams led West Bladen’s balanced attack with 12 points each. Williams also grabbed 8 rebounds. Pait finished with 9 points and 3 steals. Adams followed with 7 points and 2 steals, and Bealon added 6 points. Mitchell grabbed 4 rebounds.
Troy topped all scorers with 14 points – 12 in the 2nd half – for the Gators. The 2 teams will have a rematch Tuesday, November 29th at West Bladen.
West Bladen 7 22 6 13 – 48
East Columbus 4 8 15 9 – 36
WEST BLADEN (48) – Jackson Pait 9, Hezekiah Adams 7, Tylik McCall 12, Andre Moore, Cornelius Esters, Walter Bealon 6, Anthony Mitchell 2, Chase Williams 12.
EAST COLUMBUS (36) – Jay’zeon Brown 6, Jaquise Smith 6, Cainan Patrick 4, Tyrese Simpson 2, Jaden Troy 14, J’von Junious, Alex Melvin 2, C. J. Waddell, Javarrie Adams 2, Dureon Sutton, Ayden Graham, Luis Colon.
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