North Myrtle Beach Times Serving our Community and the Grand Strand for over 50 years
Primere Lewis’ jump shot for a basket with 3:35 left in the fourth quarter followed his three-pointer two minutes earlier as the Chiefs tried to rally in their 62-48 loss to St. James last Friday night at the North Myrtle Beach gym. Lewis scored 13 points with three three-pointers to lead Chiefs scoring in the game against the Sharks.
By John Smithson
The North Myrtle Beach High School varsity boys basketball team fell to 1-3 in the 6AAAAA region after playing Carolina Forest and St. James, two top teams in the region.
The Chiefs tangled with the Panthers last Tuesday at the NMB gym. The Panthers were 10-3 overall and 2-1 in the region, their only loss to St. James by a 74-57 score.
The Panthers got off to a quick start against the Chiefs and led 31-18 at halftime. The Chiefs couldn’t stop them in the third quarter as Carolina Forest scored 22 points to take a 53-27 lead into the fourth quarter.
The Chiefs outscored the Panthers 12-4 in the final quarter but lost the game 57-39. JJ Gray was a key factor in the Panthers win as he poured in 30 points on 12 of 14 shooting. The Chiefs Tavion Vereen had 8 points, Primere Lewis and Reo Stevenson 7 each and Porter Anglin scored 6 points with 8 rebounds.
Last Friday night in their second home game of the week the Chiefs lost to St. James by a 62-48 margin.
The Chiefs early points were a nice drive to the basket by Porter Anglin and a rebound bucket by Tavion Vereen and a 4-4 tie with 5:39 on the clock. The Sharks then outscored the Chiefs 9-0 as turnovers and missed shots aided the St. James offense.
Following a Chiefs timeout and the score 15-4, Mason Walker hit a three and another basket in the last minute of the quarter and the Chiefs trailed 16-9 going into the second quarter.
Primere Lewis overtook the offense in the first three-plus minutes of the quarter, hitting two three-pointers and a jumper to cut the Sharks lead to 17-16. Mason Walker got into the act with two threes and the Chiefs led 23-20 with under four minutes to play in the half.
The play slowed down after that. Fouls by the Chiefs led to six points off free throws for the Sharks, while the Chiefs scored only two points in the final three and a half minutes and trailed 26-25 at the break.
The Sharks scored the first 5 points of the third quarter to lead 31-25, while Chiefs turnovers hurt Chiefs offensive possessions. Reo Stevenson’s basket, two free throws by Caden Bass and a Vereen jumper got the Chiefs back to within a basket at 33-31 but the Sharks finished the quarter on an 8-5 run for a 41-36 third quarter lead.
Reo Stevenson’s free throw and a Primere Lewis three kept the Chiefs in the game but trailing 47-40 with 5:14 left in the game. The Chiefs were up and down the court after that with only a Lewis basket to show for it as the Sharks built a 55-42 lead. Luke Barrett’s rebound basket and two late baskets by Bass weren’t enough and St. James got 5 points in the last minute of the game for their 62-48 victory.
The Chiefs offense was led by Lewis with 13 points. Walker had three three-pointers and 9 points. Stevenson scored 7 points and Tavion Vereen had 6 points. Elijah Coles led the Sharks in scoring with 22 points.
The Chiefs played in the MLK tournament in Marion on Monday against Hartsville and return to region play tomorrow night at Myrtle Beach.
