Sophmore Shaquille Johnson posted a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds to lead West Bladen to a 72-63 Four County Conference boys basketball victory over Clinton on Senior Night at West.
“I still think they (Clinton) are the most talented team in our league,” said West Bladen Coach Travis Pait. “For us to be able to beat them twice is big. It keeps us alive for the No. 1 2A play-off spot, but we are going to need some help.”
The Dark Horses trimmed a 12-point West Bladen lead to four twice in the fourth quarter, but senior Stefan McDonald made a free throw, and Johnson put back a rebound for a 64-57 Knight lead with 1:40 left remaining.
Xzavier Howard scored on a follow, but junior John Bowen and sophmore Jonathan Robinson hit free throws to keep West up 66-59, before Howard banked in a 17-footer.
Bowen sank 2 more free throws with 9 seconds left, and McDonald canned 2 more with 4 seconds left for a 70-63 lead. McDonald scooped up a steal as Clinton was trying to roll an in-bounds pass and beat the buzzer for the final lay-up.
Bowen finished with 17 points and 6 rebounds. McDonald followed with 15 points, and junior Sayaun Dent added 11 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals. Senior Will Lambeth contributed 8 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals off the bench.
“Will has played well all year and given us some good minutes,” said Coach Pait. “We have played more zone the last 3 games and that has given Will more playing time.”
Bowen’s outlet pass produced a Dent lay-up, and a Robinson feed beat the Clinton press for a Bowen lay-up. Johnson drove for a lay-up, and Dent nailed a 3-point shot from the right corner for a 9-5 Knight lead.
Xzavier Howard drove for a lay-up and a 3-point play then made 2 free throws to spark a 9-1 Clinton run that vaulted the visitors in front 14-10.
Johnson turned a McDonald assist into a lay-up, but Jaquan McLean’s 17-footer pushed the Dark Horse lead to 18-12. McDonald buried a 3-pointer from the top of the key to keep West within 18-15 at the quarter break.
McDonald began the second period with a 15-foot jumper, and Lambeth put back a rebound for a 19-18 West lead. A McLean 3-ball and a Zion Autry dunk vaulted Clinton ahead 23-19.
McDonald canned 2 free throws, and Lambeth stole the ball and sprinted for a lay-up and a 23-23 tie. Bowen drained a 3-point shot to keep West within 27-26 at halftime.
Bowen delivered another 3-point shot to tie the score at 29, and West took the lead when Johnson’s lob pass went in the basket. Johnson beat the press for a lay-up and put back another follow shot. Bowen fired in another 3-point bomb to keep West up 38-36.
Two McDonald free throws ignited a 12-2 Knight spurt. Lambeth put back a rebound and turned a Dent assist into a lay-up. Robinson and Dent sank 2 free throws each, and Dent drove the baseline for a 50-38 lead.
Johnson’s follow shot in transition kept West Bladen up 52-42 at the quarter break.
Johnson cashed in 2 free throws and converted a McDonald pass into a lay-up to keep the margin at 56-46 with 6:26 remaining.
Clinton’s Jaylen Best put back a rebound and hit from 10 feet to whittle the lead to 56-50, but Bowen bombed in another 3-point shot for a 59-50 lead with 5:02 left.
A pair of Dent free throws kept West ahead 61-55 with 3:05 on the clock.
“We were sloppy with the ball in the first half,” said Coach Pait. “They scored 16 points off our 13 turnovers. If not for that we would have had a good lead.”
The Knights outrebounded Clinton 35-25. “We rebounded well,” continued Coach Pait. “We went to a big line-up and hoped that would give us an advantage on the boards.”
Jeremiah Pope led the Clinton scoring with 11 points, and Xzavier Howard and E. J. Howard followed with 10 points each.
The Knights improved to 7-5 in league play and 16-6 overall. West Bladen will travel to Midway Tuesday night.
In pre-game ceremonies, West Bladen senior players, Stefan McDonald, Malique McDowell, Michael Guyton and Will Lambeth and senior managers Devon Malcolm and Traquan Horne were honored.
West Bladen (72) – Jimmy Williams, Keshawn Lewis, Stefan McDonald 15, Sayaun Dent 11, Malique McDowell, Shaquille Johnson 18, Jonathan Robinson 3, Will Lambeth 8, John Bowen 17.
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