Spread the love

BLADENBORO –Sophomore Chase Williams and freshman Jackson Pait combined to score 26 of their 38 points in the 2nd half as West Bladen rallied from a 20-19 halftime deficit and rode a 32-24 closing surge to a 51-44 non-conference boys’ basketball victory over South Columbus Tuesday night.

Coach Travis Pait’s Knights ran their unbeaten string to 8 in a row and will visit North Brunswick Wednesday night for their final game before Christmas.

Williams pounded the paint for a pair of baskets to start the 2nd half and vault the Knights in front 23-20, before Pait drilled in a 3-point shot for a 26-20 lead.

Kai Brownlee put back a rebound for South, but Williams hit a free throw, and sophomore Hezekiah Adams nailed a 3-point shot for a 30-24 West lead. Rovaughn Graham answered with a 3-ball for the Stallions, but Williams turned an assist from junior Andre Moore into a lay-up and a 32-27 lead.

Adams buried a corner 3-ball for the Knights, but South’s Jamal Brown tossed in a runner. Pait hurled in a long 3-pointer with 8 seconds left that pushed the West Bladen lead to 38-31 at the quarter break.

Williams started the final period by sinking 3 of 4 free throws and popping in a 13-footer for a 43-35 Knight lead. Brown brought the Stallions to within 43-41 with a trio of baskets.

Pait cashed in 2 free throws with 2:06 on the clock then after a Williams rebound, swished a 3-pointer for a 48-41 lead with 1:28 remaining. Noah Greene’s 15-footer plus a Graham foul shot trimmed the margin to 48-44, before Williams made a free throw with 11 seconds left, and Pait netted 2 more for the final margin.

Williams led all scorers with 21 points, and Pait finished with 17 points. Adams rang up 10 points for the winners. Brown led South Columbus with 15 points, and Graham and Andrew Todd added 10 points each.

“South made a lot of shots,” said Coach Pait. “We weren’t as sharp as we have been. Chase rebounded well, and Hezzy (Adams) and Jackson made some big shots for us. Andre and Walter (Bealon) made some tough entry passes into Chase for lay-ups. It was a total team effort.”

Three-balls from Brown and Todd edged the Stallions ahead early, but Williams worked inside for 2 baskets and 2 free throws, and Adams threw in a basket to keep West within 9-8.

Two baskets from Graham and a 3-ball from Todd pushed South in front in the 2nd quarter. Moore and Pait fired in 3-point shots, and Adams and Williams dropped in baskets to keep West within 20-19 at halftime. Pait also connected on a free throw.

South Columbus 9 11 11 13 – 44
West Bladen 8 11 19 13 – 51

SOUTH COLUMBUS (44) – Jamal Brown 15, Rovaughn Graham 10, Andrew Todd 10, Demonta Gore 2, Chase Clewis, Cole Edge, Kai Brownlee 5, Noah Greene 2.

WEST BLADEN (51) – Jackson Pait 17, Hezekiah Adams 10, Tylik McCall, Andre Moore 3, Cornelius Esters, Walter Bealon, Chase Williams 21.