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By John Clark

BLADENBORO – Freshman Kendell Lessane and senior Cornelius Esters provided a spark on the boards off the bench Tuesday night igniting an 18-4 run that propelled West Bladen to a 60-33 non-conference boys’ basketball victory over West Columbus.

The Knights and Vikings were both playing their 4th game in 6 days. “I thought both teams looked dead-legged in the first 5 minutes,” said Knight Coach Travis Pait. “Kendell and Corn came in and gave us a spark. We were getting killed on the boards.”

West Columbus outrebounded the Knights 12-5 in the 1st period, but West Bladen held a 24-20 rebounding edge over the final 3 quarters.

Junior center Chase Williams just missed a double-double for the Knights with 17 points, 9 rebounds, 6 blocked shots, 5 assists and 3 steals. Sophomore Jackson Pait drained four 3-point shots and totaled 16 points and 2 assists. Sophomore Tylik McCall pumped in 12 points and collected 4 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists.

Lessane finished with 3 points, 4 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists. Senior Andre Moore tallied 3 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals. Esters contributed 3 points, 2 rebounds and 2 steals. Junior Hezekiah Adams added 3 points, 2 rebounds and 2 assists. Junior Ty’Leak Ballard grabbed 3 rebounds.

McCall nailed a 3-point shot and another long jumper to give the Knights a quick 5-1 lead. Freshman Larry Graham and senior Tyler Watts-Brown rallied the Vikings into a 7-5 lead. However, Williams answered with a pair of lay-ups – one off an Adams assist – and Pait drilled a 3-pointer to vault the Knights in front 12-7. Graham and Watts-Brown threw in a basket each to pull the visitors to within 12-11 at the break.

Williams converted a Moore assist into a lay-up to begin the 2nd period, but Unique Kelly banked in a 6-footer to keep the Vikings within 14-13. Pait flipped in a short baseline runner to ignite a 14-0 Knight spurt. Esters sank 2 free throws then delivered an assist to Williams for a lay-up. A Williams feed resulted in a McCall lay-up. Adams hit a free throw, Moore buried a 3-point shot and Pait sent an assist to McCall for a lay-up then popped in a 10-foot leaner from the lane for a 30-15 halftime lead.

Williams turned an Adams assist into a lay-up to start the 2nd half, but a Kelly follow and a Tristian Tubbs runner narrowed the gap to 32-21. Pait unleashed a barrage of 3-point shots rippling the nets from the right wing, left of the key and from the right corner. McCall’s feed resulted in an Adams’ lay-up, and Pait sent an assist to Williams for another lay-up as the lead grew to 45-23. Williams stepped outside and burnt the nets with a 3-ball then spun to the board for a lay-up and a 50-29 lead.

McCall bombed in another 3-ball in the final period, Lessane and Esters cashed in free throws, Lessane drove for a lay-up, and junior Conner Monroe drilled in a 3-pointer for the final margin.

Seniors Kelly and Watts-Brown topped the Viking scoring with 10 points each.

The Knights improved to 10-1 and will travel to South Brunswick Wednesday night. The Vikings, now 3-4, will visit Lake View, SC Wednesday night.

West Columbus 11 4 16 2 — 33
West Bladen 12 18 20 10 — 60

West Columbus (33) — Jaylen Bellamy 2, Unique Kelly 10, Triston Freeman, James Craven Axleberg, Tyler Watts-Brown 10, Tristian Tubbs 3, Emanuez Jones, Ty Mason, Larry Graham 4, ZaDavion Baldwin, Zion Eady 4, Dwayne Bryant.

West Bladen (60) — Jackson Pait 16, Hezekiah Adams 3, Tylik McCall 12, Kendell Lessane 3, Conner Monroe 3, Andre Moore 3, Cornelius Esters 3, Donovan Tubbs, Ty’Leak Ballard, Chase Williams 17.