Spread the love

By John Clark

BLADENBORO — It was billed as the “Showdown for 1st place” in the Southeastern Athletic Conference between Robeson Shootout champion Fairmont and Bladen Offroad Christmas Tourney champ West Bladen. ‘The Castle’ was packed Friday night and by 6:15 people were being turned away or told to wait outside until space was available.

It didn’t start well for West Bladen as Fairmont raced to an early 11-2 lead, but the Knights didn’t panic and outscored the visitors 29-6 for the remainder of the half enroute to a 66-35 victory that ran the West winning streak to 13 in a row.

Coach Travis Pait’s Knights, now 4-0 in SAC play and 15-1 overall, will travel to Red Springs Tuesday night. The Red Devils lost to Fairmont 41-39 Tuesday and are 3-1 in SAC play.

“I told the guys not to worry,” said Coach Pait about the early Tornado run. “We weren’t making shots, and I knew we would eventually. Our guards were amazing tonight against their pressure.”

Fairmont is known for its very physical full-court pressure defense. Last year the Tornadoes overcame a 40-22 West Bladen lead in the final 9 minutes of play to claim a 47-44 win by forcing 13 2nd half turnovers. Friday night the Knights only committed 10 turnovers in the entire game and 1 of them was intentional to stop the clock to get substitutes in.

Sophomore Jackson Pait was the primary ball-handler against that press throughout the game and in almost 32 minutes he was charged with only 1 turnover.

Pait flipped in a runner for the only Knight basket in the 1st 5 minutes. Junior Hezekiah Adams soared high to bang in a lay-up then tacked on a free throw. Sophomore Tylik McCall sank 2 free throws to trim the margin to 13-7. Two baskets by Isaac McKellar and a Landon Cummings 3-pointer had sparked Fairmont to the early lead.

Adams sped to the basket for another lay-up then cashed in 2 free throws. Chase Williams swished 2 free throws then hit another to edge West ahead 14-13. Gabriel Washington’s fade-away vaulted Fairmont back in front, but McCall nailed a corner 3-ball for a 17-15 West lead.

Washington’s baseline jumper tied the game a final time at 17-17, before senior Andre Moore drilled in a corner 3-ball that ignited a 14-0 Knight blitz. Williams worked an up-and-under move to score against 2 defenders. Adams canned 2 free throws, and Williams made one, before muscling in a follow then slamming in a dunk off a Pait assist. Williams and Pait grew the halftime lead to 31-17 with a free throw each.

Williams hooked in a 4-footer to start the 2nd half. A pair of McKellar baskets trimmed the margin to 33-21, but Moore answered with a corner 3-ball. Adams flew to the rim for a transition lay-up, and McCall sent an assist to Williams for a lay-up.

Freshman Kendell Lessane drove the baseline for a lay-up. Adams converted 2 more free throws, before Pait knocked down a 3-ball for a 47-23 lead. Williams spun to the rim for a lay-up, and junior Ty’Leak Ballard powered in a rebound for a 51-29 West lead at the break.

McCall pumped in 2 free throws to begin the 4th period. Williams sent an assist to a cutting Moore for a lay-up. Pait hit a foul shot then delivered an assist to Williams for a lay-up. McCall drove for a lay-up, followed up his own shot and scored then found Williams inside for another lay-up. Another Pait assist to Williams closed out the scoring.

Williams led the Knights with 23 points and 8 rebounds. Adams finished with 13 points, 3 steals and 3 assists. McCall followed with 11 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds. Moore added 8 points and 2 steals. Pait totaled 7 points, 3 assists and 2 steals. Lessane grabbed 8 rebounds.

“Everybody did a great job,” said Coach Pait. “Andre was amazing. Kendell gave us a lift on the boards. It’s a big win, but Montrell (Coach McNair) does a great job at Fairmont. I remember we beat them one year in the Christmas tournament, but they knocked us out of the playoffs later that season. So it’s just 1 win.”

McKellar topped the Tornado scoring with 13 points, and Washington followed with 6 points.

Fairmont 13 4 12 6 — 35
West Bladen 7 24 20 15 — 66

Fairmont (35) — Gabriel Washington 6, Damajah McRae 2, Ty’Rek Thompson, Landon Cummings 4, Isaac McKellar 13, Naishon Davis, Xavier Johnson 4, Jalil Brown, Deborian Powell, Messiah Baker, Nasir Davis 2, Josiah Billings 2, Kaiden Filmore, Caleb Daniels 2.

West Bladen (66) — Jackson Pait 7, Hezekiah Adams 13, Tylik McCall 11, Kendell Lessane 2, Andre Moore 8, Cornelius Esters, Donovan Tubbs, Ty’Leak Ballard 2, Chase Williams 23.