By John Clark
KENLY – Sophomore Marcel Freeman poured in 32 points and made the key steal for the go-ahead bucket as North Johnston rallied for a 49-43 victory over West Bladen Tuesday night in the opening round of the NCHSAA Class 2A boys’ basketball playoffs.
Sophomore Chase Williams turned a rebound basket into a 3-point play to edge West in front 38-37 with 5:17 remaining. The Knights were running their ‘spin’ offense when Freeman sneaked up behind the ball-handler to punch the ball away and race for the go-ahead lay-up with 2:27 left.
Coach Travis Pait’s Knights went to their foul game with 1:25 on the clock, but junior Cory Barnes sank 4 consecutive free throws and the Panthers made 10 of 12 foul shots in the final 1:16. Williams banged in a lay-up off a feed from junior Andre Moore to trim the margin to 43-40 with 46 seconds left, and Moore drained a 3-point shot with 8 seconds remaining.
“I thought we were in good shape when we went to our ‘spin’ but 3 big turnovers hurt us,” said Coach Pait. “We didn’t intend to foul 15 (Barnes) but we did, and he made them, but their other guys shot them well too. We just didn’t make enough plays.”
Williams, a 6-7 center, topped the Knight scoring list with 19 points and 7 rebounds despite sitting out 9 minutes of the 1st half due to fouls. Freshman Jackson Pait fired in a pair of 3-point shots and finished with 8 points. Sophomore Hezekiah Adams racked up 7 points, 8 rebounds and 2 assists. Moore bombed in a pair of 3-balls and totaled 6 points and 4 rebounds.
The Knights opened the game with a 3-point barrage as Moore, Adams and Pait buried 3-point shots for a 9-0 lead at the 4:57 mark. Freeman rallied the Panthers with a pair of elbow jumpers, a lay-up and a follow shot. Senior Anthony Mitchell nailed a 3-point shot to keep West up 12-10 at the quarter-break.
Williams dropped in a lay-up that resulted in a 3-point play off a pass from Pait for a 15-12 Knight lead. Freeman answered with a corner jumper, but Adams delivered an assist to Williams for a lay-up and a 17-14 lead.
Freeman got the 1st of 3 steals in the game that he turned into lay-ups but was whistled for a technical foul after the play, and Pait converted both free throws. Adams stole the ball and darted for a lay-up then hooked in a runner to pad the Knight lead to 23-18. Barnes drilled in a 3-ball to whittle the lead to 23-21 at halftime.
Williams hooked in an 8-footer from the baseline to start the 3rd period then flipped in a 1-hander and tacked on a free throw for a 28-21 West lead. Pait swished a 3-pointer as the Knight lead grew to 31-23, but Freeman responded with a trio of baskets. Williams netted another 1-hand bank shot for a 33-30 lead, but Barnes tied the game with a 3-ball, and Freeman’s transition lay-up gave the Panthers their 1st lead of the game 35-33 as the quarter ended.
Freeman cut down the baseline for a lay-up to begin the final period, but Williams muscled in a lay-up off an assist from Adams to keep West within 37-35.
Barnes followed Freeman on the Panthers scoring list with 10 points. North Johnston, now 20-6, will visit #1 seed Farmville Central – a 79-34 winner over Fairmont – Thursday night. West Bladen concluded their season with an 18-8 record.
“Unbelievable, almost magical season for this team,” said Coach Pait. “Our young guys have played so well and competed. Nobody expected this. For Gary Parker to come back after surgery and play like he did this season was incredible. Peanut (Anthony Mitchell) has been huge for us and was big again tonight. Walter (Bealon) has made big contributions.”
West Bladen 12 11 10 10 — 43
North Johnston 10 11 14 14 — 49
WEST BLADEN (43) – Jackson Pait 8, Hezekiah Adams 7, Tylik McCall, Andre Moore 6, Cornelius Esters, Gary Parker, Walter Bealon, Anthony Mitchell 3, Chase Williams 19.
NORTH JOHNSTON (49) – Ayden Pone, Cory Barnes 10, Braedon Moore, Cadyn Lucas 2, Cooper Gibson, Jaylen Sumler 5, Marcel Freeman 32, Wyatt Hales.
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