West Bladen Roll East Columbus 68-32 in Season Opener

LAKE WACCAMAW, NC — Seniors Jackson Pait and Tylik McCall fired in 23 points each to lead West Bladen to a season-opening 68-32 non-conference boys’ basketball victory over East Columbus Tuesday night. 

Coach Travis Pait’s Knights posted a 27-2 record last season and reached the NCHSAA Class 2A Eastern Championship game. West Bladen will host West Columbus Friday night in their home opener. 

“I was very happy with how hard we played,” said Coach Pait. “We jumped on them early and stayed on them. They (East Columbus) are very talented. I was very happy with the team. Great effort tonight.”

Kevon Stackhouse’s lay-up for the Gators was matched by Jackson Pait’s 2 free throws, before Pait drilled a long 3-pointer that ignited a 22-4 Knight surge over the final 4 minutes of the period.

McCall flipped in a basket then drove for a lay-up. Junior Kendell Lessane sank an acrobatic fade-away, and Pait’s assist resulted in a lay-up for Jamari Adams-Peterson that padded the lead to 13-2.

Senior Demarion Bryant banked in 3-pointer from the top of the key, and Pait buried a pair of 3-balls from the top of the key then banged in a leaner from the lane that stretched the West lead to 24-6 at the quarter break.

McCall opened the 2nd period with a 10-foot turn-around, and Adams-Peterson bombed in a 3-pointer from the right wing. McCall splashed in a 3-pointer from the right wing then pulled up for a 15-footer and a 34-8 lead.

Covington rallied the Gators with a trio of follow-shots, a free throw and a lay-up, but McCall spun to the rim for a rebound basket, and Adams-Peterson nailed another 3-pointer. Pait and junior Jaquan Lesane netted free throws for a 41-19 lead. 

McCall turned a Lessane assist into a lay-up, then wheeled to the basket and popped in a 6-footer. Junior Blake Britt cashed in 2 free throws to push the lead to 47-19 at halftime. 

Adams-Peterson blistered the nets with another 3-ball to begin the 2nd half. Pait dropped in 2 free throws, and freshman Carnell Lewis hit one, before Pait drained a 3-ball from the left wing that stretched the lead to 56-21 at the 5:06 mark and started the mercy-rule running clock.

Pait banked in a runner and converted 2 free throws. McCall swished a pair of free throws and connected on another 15-foot turn-around to boost the lead to 64-25 at the quarter break. 

McCall added 2 more free throws in the final period, and senior Justin Spaulding tossed in a lay-up. 

Pait knocked down 4 of West Bladen’s 9 3-point baskets in the game, and contributed 5 rebounds and 2 steals. McCall grabbed 4 rebounds and had 2 steals and one 3-pointer.

Adams-Peterson sizzled the nets with a trio of 3-balls and tallied 11 points, and Bryant snatched a team-high 7 rebounds and had one 3-ball.

Stackhouse led the Gators with 13 points, and Tyron Keaton followed with 7.

West Bladen (68) – Jackson Pait 23, Demarion Bryant 3, Sayvion Covington, Tylik McCall 23, Kendell Lessane 2, Keonta Hill, Jaquan Lesane 1, Jamari Adams-Peterson 11, Carnell Lewis 1, Keon Whittington, Ethan Bourhill, Ahmbrie Cooper, Cyncere Jessup, Blake Britt 2, Justin Spaulding 2. 

East Columbus (32) – KJ Thurman, Adrion Jenrette 4, Koray Beatty 2, Ryan Cobb 4. Zay Hines, Kevon Stackhouse 13, Tyron Keaton 7, Jaimeer Hudson, Rudy Jernigan 2, Tymarion Baldwin, Eli Walker. 

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West Bladen Roll East Columbus 68-32 in Season Opener