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A battle between a pair of two-time champions and a Border Rivalry highlight Thursday’s schedule for the Woodmen Life Christmas Tournament at West Bladen High.
West Bladen, the Woodmen Life champions in 2014 and 2015, and Whiteville, the Woodmen Life champs in 2012 and 2013, will battle at 8 p.m. “This is the match-up everybody wanted to see,” said Knight Coach Travis Pait. “And Wow! What about that 6 p.m. game – Dillon and Fairmont.”
West Bladen received 22 points from Sayaun Dent and 18 more from John Bowen as they defeated North Brunswick 58-45 in Wednesday’s opening round. Whiteville’s Tyrell Kirk lit up First Flight for 32 points as the Wolfpack won 83-69.
Whiteville Coach Jerry Singletary and Knight Coach Travis Pait are very good friends and both played high school basketball at Bladenboro High under Coach Junior Nance.
Fairmont’s Jarique Moore and Julius Caulder led the Tornadoes to an 89-78 victory over East Bladen. Moore posted a double-double of 28 points and 20 rebounds, and Caulder had a double-double of 18 points and 18 rebounds. Teammate Derrick Arnette added 22 points.
Dillon outlasted Scotland 52-49 behind the guard play of Keenan Norman and Rakeem Fletcher. The Wildcats improved to 3-5 with the win.
In Thursday’s 2 p.m. opener East Bladen will battle Scotland (6-4). Senior Eian Hines racked up 24 points and 16 rebounds in the Eagles game against Fairmont. Guard Derrick Johnson pumped in four 3-point shots and totaled 16 points. Scotland will be led by guard Niem Ratliffe.
North Brunswick and First Flight will meet at 4 p.m. Josh Brown worked the paint for 21 points to lead the Scorpions in their game against West Bladen. The First Flight Nighthawks fought back from a 20-point halftime deficit to within 10 points of Whiteville but couldn’t get over the hump.
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