BLADENBORO – Freshman Jackson Pait keyed a 10-0 3rd period spurt with a trio of 3-point shots that propelled West Bladen to a 36-22 lead and eventual non-conference 54-41 victory over West Columbus Friday night.
With the Knights leading 26-22 to start the 2nd half, Pait buried a pair of 3-point shots from the left wing then knocked down another 3-ball from the right wing. Sophomore Chase Williams’ free throw helped push the lead to 36-22.
Tristian Tubbs and Randell Durden rallied the Vikings to within 36-30 with 4 points each, but senior Walter Bealon nailed a 3-pointer, and Pait fired a long pass to sophomore Hezekiah Adams for a lay-up and a 41-30 lead at the quarter break.
Adams sent a pair of assists to Williams who dropped in 2 lay-ups and a free throw to begin the final period and pad the lead to 46-30. An Adams lay-up made it 48-32 before the Vikings trimmed the margin to 48-37.
Freshman Tylik McCall pulled up for an elbow jumper, senior Anthony Miller sank 2 free throws, and Adams beat the press for a lay-up.to end the scoring.
Pait bombed in 5 3-pointers in the game and finished with a game-high 17 points. Adams finished with 11 points for the Knights, Williams added 9, and McCall tossed in 8 points.
Adams grabbed a team–high 5 rebounds, and Williams and McCall totaled 4 rebounds each. Pait also came up with 6 steals, and Adams and junior Andre Moore had 3 steals each.
Unique Kelly who led the Vikings with 13 points sparked WC to a 15-10 lead with 7 points in the 1st period. Pait and junior Andre Moor drilled in 3-balls for the Knights in the opening period, and Williams dropped in a basket and a free throw.
McCall delivered a pair of 3-point shots in the 2nd quarter for the Knights. Pait pumped in another 3-ball and 2 free throws, and Adams flew to the rim for a pair of baskets as the Knights rode a 16-7 run to a 26-22 lead.
“We had some turnovers early because our press offense wasn’t set up correctly, said Knight Coach Travis Pait. “But after that I thought we handled the ball pretty well. Our guys played hard, and I thought we played smart at the end.”
The Knights improved to 4-0 with the victory and will host North Brunswick Tuesday night.
West Columbus 15 7 8 11 – 41
West Bladen 10 16 15 13 – 54
WEST COLUMBUS (41) – Jaylen Bellamy 5, Unique Kelly 13, Triston Freeman, James Craven Axelburg 5, Randell Durden 4, Tristian Tubbs 10, Xander Axelburg 2, Cameron Eady 2.
WEST BLADEN (54) – Jackson Pait 17, Hezekiah Adams 11, Tylik McCall 8, Andre Moore 3, Cornelius Esters 1, Walter Bealon 3, Anthony Mitchell, 2 Chase Williams 9.
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