03/28/2024
Spread the love

After twelve games in three days, the Woodmen Life Christmas Tournament went down to the final seconds Friday night when Dillon’s Rakeem Fletcher double-pumped an attempt at tying the game off the back-iron and into the hands of West Bladen’s John Bowen.

The Knights captured their third straight Woodmen Life crown with the 59-57 victory over the Wildcats in the title game. Tournament Most Outstanding Player Sayaun Dent pumped in 23 points and guard Kalvin Page who finished with 12 points and 9 rebounds was also named to the All-Tournament Team. Bowen finished with 11 points and 9 rebounds for the Knights.

The Dillon Wildcats who led by as many as 7 points in the first half placed Tyquan Porter on the All-Tournament Team. Porter drained four 3-point shots and totaled 14 points Friday and tallied 22 in Thursday’s semi-final win over Fairmont.  Keenan Norman added 10 points in the title game after pouring in 29 points against Fairmont.

Fairmont regrouped after the Dillon loss and pulled away in the second half for a 73-47 victory over Whiteville in the third-place game. Senior Julius Caulder bombed in six 3-point shots in the second half and topped the Tornadoes with 22 points. Guard Jarique Moore tossed in 15 points and was named to the All-Tournament Team. Moore racked up 22 points and 20 rebounds in an opening round win over East Bladen.

Bradley Pridgen threw in 13 points for Whiteville, and Tyrell Kirk finished with 10 points. Kirk who poured in 32 points in the opening round, added 19 points in the Wolfpack’s second round loss to West Bladen and was named to the All-Tournament Team.

The talk of the tournament were the First Flight Nighthawks and their high-powered offense that brought back memories of the Loyola Marymount teams of 1988-1990 that were coached by Paul Westhead.

The Nighthawks defeated Scotland 76-70 in Friday’s fifth-place game. Senior Devyn Dodson scored 18 points in the win and was named to the All-Tournament team. Dodson pumped in 25 points in First Flight’s 97-82 second round win over North Brunswick.

First Flight blistered the nets with 29 3-point shots in their 3 games led by freshman guard Dylan Blake who connected for twelve 3-pointers and tallied 17 points in the win over Scotland and 26 against North Brunswick. Sophmore Reese Jones connected on eight 3-point shots in the three games. Center Cole Basnight powered in 14 points in the win over Scotland.

Scotland lost a tough opener to Dillon 52-49 and defeated East Bladen 78-71 in their second round game behind 20 points from guard Niem Ratliffe. Tre Dixon collected 18 points for the Scots, and Al Farmer finished with 15.

East Bladen claimed its first win of the season with a 68-55 victory over North Brunswick Friday. Senior Eian Hines posted a double-double of 22 points and 12 rebounds, and guard Denzel Johnson followed with 20 points and 8 steals.

Eian Hines recorded double-doubles in all 3 games with 24 points and 16 rebounds against Fairmont and 13 points and 10 rebounds against Scotland. Johnson racked up 23 points against Scotland, and Ethan Hines scored 18 points.

North Brunswick was led by Eddie Smith with 17 points and Thomas Jackson with 14 points.

About Author