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BLADENBORO — Senior center Chase Williams poured in a career-high 38 points and grabbed 18 rebounds to lead No. 4 seed West Bladen to a 70-40 NCHSAA 3rd round boys’ basketball playoff victory over No. 5 Elizabeth City Northeastern Tuesday night.

Coach Travis Pait’s Knights recorded their 19th consecutive victory and raised their record to 26-1. West Bladen will travel to top-seeded Farmville Central (23-4) Friday night. The Jaguars defeated No. 8 Eastern Wayne 95-47 Tuesday night.

Williams posted his 17th double-double of the season. The 6-8 Citadel signee connected on 14 of 15 shots from the field and 10 of 13 free throws. Williams blocked 3 shots and had 1 steal and 1 assist.

“Chase was amazing,” said Coach Pait. “But our guys did a great job of getting him the ball. I thought everybody played well. “Kendell (Lesane) was who we needed him to be tonight. Everyone that came in played hard.”

Coach Pait continued, “Hezi (Hezekiah Adams), Tylik (McCall), Jackson (Pait) and Keonta (Hill) all played great and did a great job of following the game plan. Conner (Monroe) battled and kept rebounds alive.”

McCall racked up 10 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 deflections and tossed in 5 of his 6 shots from the field. Adams filled up the stat sheet with 8 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 deflections and 1 steal.

Pait nailed a pair of 3-point shots to finish with 8 points, 5 assists and 5 rebounds. Lesane tossed in 6 points and contributed 2 assists and 2 rebounds.

Pait drilled in a 3-point shot to ignite an 11-0 opening run for the Knights. McCall dished an assist to Chase Williams for a lay-up. Lesane raced for a lay-up in transition, and Williams spun to the rim for a lay-up then dropped in a pair of free throws.

Mekkhei Williams hit 2 free throws at the 3:10 mark to put the Eagles on the board. Chase Williams answered with a pair of free throws, before Northeastern’s Tyell Saunders trimmed the margin to 13-5 at the quarter break with a trio of free throws.

Chase Williams started the 2nd period with a 6-foot jump hook and later hooked in a lay-up. Adams tossed in a baseline runner then found a cutting Pait for a lay-up. Chase Williams tapped in a follow that grew the lead to 23-7.

Jakeel Stallings rallied the Eagles with a pair of buckets. Adams sank 2 free throws, and Chase Williams added one to keep the lead at 26-13. Baskets by Mekkhei Williams and Z’Kobe Whidbee trimmed the margin to 26-18 at halftime.

Chase Williams began the 3rd period with another lay-up. Adams delivered an assist to McCall for a lay-up, and McCall’s assist produced another Chase Williams lay-up.

Chase Williams cashed in 2 free throws, hooked in a lay-in and powered in a follow shot. Saunders kept the Eagles within 38-27 with a basket and a foul shot.

Play was interrupted after a controversial charging foul call that stopped play. When play resumed the Knights responded with a 12-3 spurt. Chase Williams hit a free throw then turned a Pait assist into a lay-up.

Adams stole the ball and sprinted for a lay-up. Chase Williams scooped in an acrobatic lay-up through traffic, and Pait beat the quarter buzzer with a corner 3-ball that pushed the lead to 50-30.

Lesane pumped in a 15-footer to open the final quarter. McCall drove the baseline for a lay-up, Chase Williams netted 2 free throws, and Lesane popped in another 15-footer then dished an assist to Williams for another lay-up and a 60-34 lead.

McCall pulled up for a 15-footer then drove for a pair of lay-ups. Adams rammed in a dunk off an assist from Chase Williams, and Williams slammed in a dunk off an Adams assist to boost the lead to 70-38.

“The guys were tough tonight,” stated Coach Pait. “And that’s what we have to be at Farmville. Farmville wins games with their toughness, and what we have to match is their toughness.” Farmville Central and West Bladen split a pair of decisions in December with each team winning on their home court.

West Bladen shot 56% from the field Tuesday night (28 of 50). Northeastern was limited to 28% shooting (15 of 53). The Knights held a 38-20 advantage in rebounds.

Stallings led the Eagles with 12 points, and Saunders followed with 9 points.

NORTHEASTERN (40) — Z’Kobe Whidbee 5, Jayden Alexander 2, Unique Blount, Tyell Saunders 9, Jakeel Stallings 12, Eleck Sutton 6, Mekkhei Williams 6.

WEST BLADEN (70) — Jackson Pait 8, Hezekiah Adams 8, Demarion Bryant, Tylik McCall 10, Kendell Lesane 6, Keonta Hill, Conner Monroe, Jamari Adams-Peterson, Chase Williams 38, Hunter Hester.