West Bladen finishes regular season 23-1 after a strong 78-29 win over Red Springs

Bladenboro, NC - After the start of their Senior Night game was delayed Friday due to a medical situation in the hallway behind the court, West Bladen’s Knights nailed their 1st 5 shots – all 3-pointers- and rolled to a 78-29 Southeastern Athletic Conference victory over Red Springs.

Coach Travis Pait’s Knights completed an undefeated SAC season with a perfect 10-0 record and are 23-1 overall. The Knights are hosting the SAC tournament and will play the winner of Monday’s No. 4 vs. No. 5 game Wednesday at 6 p.m.

“Once we found out that the young lady was stabilized, the guys wanted to come out and play,” said Coach Pait. “So we prayed and recognized the seniors and their familes, then went out and played really well.”

Senior Chase Williams celebrated Senior Night with 32 points and 20 points – 28 points and 16 rebounds in the 1st half. The 6-8 Citadel signee made 12 of 14 shots from the field - including a 3-pointer - and added 2 assists, 1 blocked shot, 1 steal and 1 deflection while posting his 14th double-double of the season.

Junior Jackson Pait fired in four 3-point baskets and finished with 14 points, 2 assists, 2 deflections, 1 steal and 1 rebound. Senior Hezekiah Adams drilled in a pair of 3-point shots and collected 8 points, a team-high 6 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 blocked shot and 2 deflections.

Junior Tylik McCall drained a 3-pointer and tallied 6 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal and 1 deflection. Junior Demarion Bryant swished a 3-pointer and contributed 7 points, 3 rebounds and 1 steal. Junior Jamari Adams-Peterson posted 6 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist.

Sophomore Kendell Lesane grabbed 3 rebounds and had 2 points, 1 assist and 1 steal. Junior Justin Spaulding pulled down 4 rebounds. Senior Ty’Leak Ballard dished out 2 assists and tallied 3 rebounds and 1 point. Senior Conner Monroe racked up 3 rebounds, 2 points, 2 assists and a deflection.

Williams drained his 1st 3-pointer of the season to start the game. Pait bombed in a long 3-ball from behind the key then netted another 3 from the left corner. Adams buried 3-balls from the right of the key and the right corner for a 15-2 lead.

“We have some guys who can make shots and we have some guys who can make plays,” said Coach Pait. “The guys played well, and the second group came in and played really hard.”

Williams cashed in 2 free throws, dropped in a lay-up and flipped in a hook for a 21-2 West lead. McCall drove for a lay-up and a 3-point play. Williams hurled in another hook shot for a 26-7 lead. The margin was 26-12 at the quarter break.

Williams banked in a follow to begin the 2nd period, put back another rebound, hooked in a bucket off an Adams assist then sank 4 of 4 free throws to grow the lead to 37-15.

Pait popped in a baseline 10-footer, before Williams hammered in a dunk off an Adams assist. Williams converted rebounds into a pair of baskets, McCall swished a corner 3-ball and Adams pumped in a 16-footer from the elbow to boost the halftime lead to 50-17.

Another Williams rebound basket opened the 2nd half. Lesane turned a Pait assist into a lay-up, before Pait knocked down another 3-ball that started the mercy rule running clock. Bryant buried a 3-pointer, and Ballard made a free throw for a 66-23 Knight lead at the quarter break.

Ballard delivered assists to Monroe and Adams-Peterson for lay-ups. Adams-Peterson followed his own shot for a bucket then canned 2 free throws. Bryant drove for a lay-up, then closed out the scoring with a baseline fadeaway.

The Knights shot 46 per cent from the field (29 of 63), whlle the Red Devils connected on 12 of 41 shots (29 per cent). West dominated the boards with a 49-9 edge in rebounds. The Knights were credited with 17 assists.

Khalif Brown led the Red Devils with 10 points, and teammate Dallin Wilkins followed with 9 points.

Red Springs (29) – Jeremiah Chavis, Khalif Brown 10, Jadien Brown 5, Dallin Wilkins 9, Joshua Sanderson, J Locklear 3, Z Baker, Naxary Johnson 2, J Hammonds, R. Conrad.

West Bladen (78) - Jackson Pait 14, Hezekiah Adams 8, Demarion Bryant 7, Tylik McCall 6, Kendell Lesane 2, Keonta Hill, Conner Monroe 2, Jamari Adams-Peterson 6, Ty’Leak Ballard 1, Chase Williams 32, Hunter Hester, Justin Spaulding.