03/29/2024
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BLADENBORO – Junior Tyre Boykin sank 2 free throws with 3 seconds left that lifted West Bladen to a 76-73 Three Rivers Conference boys basketball victory over West Columbus Wednesday night.

Senior Keshawn Lewis’s basket with 2:36 remaining gave the Knights a 73-65 lead, but Kevon Lewis and Daquan Hardie led an 8-0 Viking spurt that tied the game 73-73 on a Hardie free throw with 1:07 left.

The Vikings missed 2 free throws with 1:03 remaining, the Knights grabbed the rebound and after a time-out, ran off 48 seconds before an intentional foul put Boykin at the foulline for the deciding free throws.

Keshawn Lewis tacked on a free throw for the Knights with a second left, and a Viking heave at the buzzer bounded away.

It was the first conference win of the season for the Knights, and the first league-loss for the first-place Vikings.

“The kids played hard, and our effort in the second half was unbelievable,” said Knight Coach Travis Pait. “This win is big for our team and their confidence.”

Kevon Lewis keyed an early Viking spurt that produced a 15-4 lead, but senior Jaheim Lesane and junior Nolan Bryant knocked down 3-point shots to close the gap to 17-10. The Vikings led 23-13 at the quarter break.

Six-five sophmore Brandis Kelly powered in 10 second quarter points as the Viking lead grew to 30-16 and 38-24.

Keshawn Lewis fired in a pair of 3-point shots, tapped in a rebound, and added a pull-up jumper and 2 free throws to keep the Knights close. Boykin dropped in a floater at the buzzer to pull West Bladen within 43-31 at halftime.

“I told our guys at halftime that we spotted them a 15-4 lead then played them even the rest of the half,” said Coach Pait. “We had a couple of guys who adjusted their attitude and played with unbelievable energy in the second half.”

Boykin began the second half with a follow shot and a runner. Junior Nijeah McKoy put back a rebound, senior Kerron Washington banked in a runner and Lesane popped in a short jumper to close the gap to 47-41.

Boykin drilled in a 3-pointer, senior Cameron Taylor flipped in a leaner and Keshawn Lewis threw in a 10-footer in traffic then tacked on a free throw to pull West Bladen to within 53-49. Kevon Lewis’s baseline turn-around put the visitors up 55-49 at the quarter break.

A Shyron Adams steal produced a Boykin lay-up to start the final period. Boykin cashed in 2 free throws, and Keshawn Lewis bombed in a long 3-pointer then hit a free throw for a 4-point play that sliced the margin to 58-57.

Lesane buried a 3-pointer to put West Bladen ahead at 60-58. Kelly muscled in a tying basket, but Boykin drove for a lay-up and a 3-point play. Three Boykin free throws and a follow shot by McKoy padded the Knight lead to 68-62. Another Lesane 3-point bomb boosted the West Bladen lead to 71-63 with 3:05 on the clock.

Boykin led the Knights with 26 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals. Keshawn Lewis finished with 23 points and 3 steals. Lesane followed with 11 points. McKoy and Adams grabbed 5 rebounds each.

“Nijeah was probably the most important player in the game,” said Pait. “He got tough inside and gave us what we needed. Shyron was amazing in the second half in the way that he rebounded and battled. Keshawn and Tyre made some big plays. But we just battled.”

Kelly posted a double-double and racked up 25 points for the Vikings. Kevon Lewis totaled 15 points, and Winston Mason tallied 10 points.

The Knights, now 4-6 overall, will host St. Pauls Friday night.

West Columbus  23  20  12  18 – 73
West Bladen        13  18  18  27 – 76

West Bladen (76) – Kerron Washington 2, Jaheim Lesane 11, Shyron Adams 2, Tyre Boykin 26, Keshawn Lewis 23, Eddie Perez-Ortiz, Trashawn Ballard 3, Drew Harris, Nijeah McKoy 4, Jackson Norris, Nolan Bryant 3, Cameron Taylor 2.

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