KINSTON – Seniors Jyrah Canady and Andre Patterson combined for 23 points Tuesday night to lead No. 2 seed Kinston to a 57-35 victory over West Bladen in the opening round of the NCHSAA Class 2A Boys Basketball Playoffs.
Canady bombed in a trio of 3-point shots in the opening period and Patterson hit one to lead the Vikings to a 17-12 lead. Sophomore Malachi Allen and freshman Hezekiah Adams popped in 2 baskets each for West, and junior Gary Parker and senior Javonta Matthews powered in a basket each.
Three balls from senior Donte Ellis and Ty’Quez Drake helped Kinston extend their lead to 32-24 at halftime. Sophomore Landon Stanley fired in 2 baskets plus a 3-ball for the Knights in the period. Adams and freshman Chase Williams dropped in a basket each for West.
Canady and Patterson connected from long range after intermission as the Kinston lead grew to 47-32. Stanley nailed a 3-point shot and hit 2 free throws and Matthews made 2 free throws for West in the quarter. Teammate Keshawn Ballard added a free throw.
Allen drilled in a 3-point shot in the final period and totaled 8 points for the game. Stanley topped the Knight scoring with 12 points, Adams threw in 6 points, and Matthews followed with 4 points.
Canady led the Vikings with 12 points, Patterson finished with 11 and junior Jaylen Cobb followed with 9 points.
The Knights completed their season with a 12-14 record. Kinston, now 20-2, advances to play Washington Thursday night. Washington rallied to defeat East Bladen 53-49 Tuesday.
West Bladen 12 12 8 3 – 35
Kinston 17 15 15 10 – 57
West Bladen (35) – Hezekiah Adams 6, Cornelius Esters, Josiah Brown, Landon Stanley 12, Malachi Allen 8, Keshawn Ballard 1, Gary Parker 2, Walter Bealon, Javonta Matthews 4, Chase Williams 2, Travail Baldwin.
Kinston (57) – Ty’Quez Drake 5, Donte Ellis 8, Jaylen Cobb 9, Jyrah Canady 12, Nizavien Williams 2, Andre Patterson 11, Dominic Clark 6, Jordan Jones 2, Ricardo Harris 2.
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