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By John Clark

BLADENBORO – After a slow start, West Bladen’s Knights opened the 2nd period with an 11-0 run that started a 41-11 surge and produced a 65-33 boys’ basketball victory over Dillon Christian Thursday night in the opening round of the Bladen Offroad Christmas Tournament.

Coach Travis Pait’s Knights improved to 7-1 and will host Lumberton (5-4) – an 80-66 winner over West Columbus – in Friday’s 8 p.m. semifinal. Friday’s 6 p.m. semifinal will match St. Pauls (7-3) and North Brunswick (9-1).

Junior center Chase Williams racked up a double-double with 24 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Knight attack. Senior Andre Moore connected on 5 of 8 3-point shots and finished with 15 points, 4 assists and 3 rebounds.

Junior Hezekiah Adams contributed 13 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Sophomore Tylik McCall followed with 7 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists. Freshman Kendell Lessane chipped in with 7 rebounds, 3 steals and 2 assists.

“Andre shot the ball well,” said Coach Pait. “He has been playing well but the shots were there for him tonight. Chase played well, and we got the ball to him. We had a lapse in the first quarter, we can’t do that tomorrow night.”

Adams, Williams and McCall put back rebound baskets in the 1st quarter for West. Adams hit a free throw, and Williams tossed in a 16-footer. Jackson Outlar and Sean Locklear answered with 3-point shots, and Locklear flipped in a 17-footer and a baseline jumper for a 10-9 Dillon lead before Williams powered in a basket that resulted in a 3-point play and a 12-10 West lead at the break.

Williams sandwiched lay-ups off assists from Lessane and Adams around a Moore 3-ball to start the 2nd period. Adams hit a free throw, and Moore buried another 3-ball. Sophomore Jackson Pait popped in a baseline 10-footer, and Williams powered in 2 more lay-ups off assists from McCall and Pait. Moore beat the halftime buzzer with another 3-ball for a 33-14 lead.

Adams started the 2nd half with a 3-pointer, turned a steal into a lay-up and delivered a pass to Williams for a dunk. McCall drove for a lay-up then drained a 3-pointer. Moore sent assists to Williams and Adams for lay-ups, and Williams dropped in another lay-up for a 53-19 lead.

Senior Cornelius Esters sank a baseline jumper, Williams banged in another lay-up and Moore fired in 2 more 3-balls in the final quarter.

Outlar led the Warriors with 14 points, and Locklear followed with 9 points. Dillon Christian, now 3-4, will play West Columbus at 4 p.m. Friday.

Dillon Christian 10 4 7 12 – 33
West Bladen 12 21 20 12 – 65

Dillon Christian (33) –Jackson Outlar 14, Zack Ellis, Reese Bracey, Sean Locklear 9, Ron Bracey, Chris Wilcox 3, Jansiel Baez, Thompson Stone 5, Kale McPherson, Braxton Cummings 2.

West Bladen (65) – Jackson Pait 2, Hezekiah Adams 13, Tylik McCall 7, Kendell Lessane, Conner Monroe 2, Andre Moore 15, Cornelius Esters 2, Donovan Tubbs, Ty’Leak Ballard, Chase Williams 24.