Two tightly-contested semi-final games before a packed house concluded the second day of the Woodmen Life Christmas Tournament at West Bladen High.
“We have had good games all day,” said West Bladen Coach Travis Pait. “This has been an unbelievable tournament. I don’t think people realize the kind of event that we have here.
“We have an advantage in that we only have two high schools in Bladen County and we can bring in strong teams from all over,” continued Coach Pait. “At the Robeson County Shoot-out and the Cumberland County tournaments, you have the same teams that play each other during the season playing each other again.”
West Bladen withstood a 3-point shooting barrage from Whiteville’s Cameron Smith who hit six 3-balls and scored 24 points and advanced to the championship game with a 67-63 victory. John Bowen led the Knights with 22 points and Kalvin Page followed with 18 points. Tyrell Kirk added 19 points for Whiteville.
Dillon, SC outscored Fairmont 47-33 in the second half and defeated the Tornadoes 84-77. The Tornadoes will play Whiteville at 6 p.m. Friday for third place and a preview of some Three Rivers Conference battles to come. West Bladen will attempt to win a third straight Woodmen Life title in the championship game at 8 p.m. against Dillon.
Scotland placed four players in double figures led by Niem Ratliffe’s 20 points as they outlasted East Bladen 78-71 in Thursday’s opening game. Guard Denzel Johnson burnt the nets with five 3-point baskets and finished with a game-high 23 points for the Eagles. Ethan Hines pumped in 18 points and brother Eian Hines posted a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds.
First Flight poured in nine 3-point baskets as they exploded for 57 first half-points en route to a 97-82 win over North Brunswick. Freshman Dylan Blake and sophmore Reese Jones delivered five 3-pointers each as the Nighthawks totaled 12 in the game. Blake finished with 26 points and senior Devyn Dodson added 25.
First Flight will play Scotland in the fifth place game at 4 p.m., while East Bladen will battle North Brunswick in the seventh place game at 2 p.m.
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