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BLADENBORO – West Bladen’s Knights, the defending Southeastern Athletic Conference boys basketball co-champions, opened the 2023-24 season Friday night with a 65-28 non-conference victory over South Brunswick.

Junior center Chase Williams just missed a double-double for the Knights finishing with 25 points and 9 rebounds. Williams sank 7 of 8 foul shots. Junior Hezekiah Adams racked up 13 points, 4 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 assists for the winners.

Sophomore Jackson Pait drained a trio of 3-point shots and totaled 12 points, 3 steals and 3 assists. Sophomore Tylik McCall added 5 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists for West, and freshman Kendell Lessane chipped in with 7 points and 3 rebounds.

Pait bombed in a pair of 3-balls, and McCall and Lessane nailed one 3-ball and another basket each in the opening period. Adams dropped in 2 baskets, and Williams canned 2 foul shots as West built a 22-12 lead.

Williams keyed a 26-point 2nd period Knight explosion with 5 baskets and 4 free throws. Adams sandwiched a pair of baskets around a 3-point basket, and Pait tossed in a 3-ball and another basket as the lead grew to 48-18 at halftime.

Williams worked the paint for 4 more baskets and a free throw in the 3rd period. Adams tossed in 2 foul shots, and Pait and Connor Monroe netted 1 foul shot each as the lead stretched to 61-18. Lessane and Cornelius Esters popped in baskets in the final quarter.

Jaelon Johnson led South Brunswick with 7 points, and Jonathan Braxton followed with 6 points.

Coach Travis Pait’s Knights are scheduled to host East Bladen on Nov. 28, but the Eagle football team is still involved in the football playoffs.

South Brunswick 12 6 0 10 — 28
West Bladen 22 26 13 4 — 65

SOUTH BRUNSWICK (28) – Jaelon Johnson 7, Jaleel Morgan, Aiden Tubman 4, Chase Robinson, Ziyon Smith 3, Jeremiah Ellis 2, Magnus Griesemer, Braydon Jackson Brown 2, Jonathan Braxton 6, Kaleb Young 4.

WEST BLADEN (65) – Jackson Pait 12, Hezekiah Adams 13, Tylik McCall 5, Kendell Lessane 7, Conner Monroe 1, Andre Moore, Cornelius Esters 2, Donovan Tubbs, Ty’Leak Ballard, Chase Williams 25.