Chiefs go 1-2 in Shootout by the Sea Tournament

By John Smithson

The North Myrtle Beach Chiefs boys basketball team finished the Shootout by the Sea Tournament at NMB High School with a 1-2 record.

The Chiefs opened tournament play on Saturday, December 20, against the First Baptist Hurricanes from Charleston, S.C. The Chiefs took a 15-12 first quarter lead and the teams were tied 22-22 at halftime.

The Chiefs outscored the Hurricanes in the third quarter and led 36-33 going into the fourth quarter. However, the Chiefs fell behind in the fourth quarter and lost their first game 48-46. The Chiefs offense was led by Chance Floyd’s 13 points. Primere Lewis and Caden Bass each had 8 points.

The Chiefs made only 5 of 25 three-point shots in the game and 3 of 7 foul shots in the loss. The Chiefs next opponent was Lamar High School.

The Chiefs offense in the first four minutes of that game was limited to a three by Mason Walker and another three by Caden Bass for a 6-5 lead. Bass hit another three and the Chiefs led 9-7. Lewis scored to make it 11-7 but the Silver Foxes tied it at 11-11 with under two minutes left in the first quarter.

Lamar took a brief 13-11 lead before a Tavion Vereen basket and another Walker three-pointer gave the Chiefs a 16-13 first quarter advantage.

Vereen and Walker each hit a three early in the second quarter for a 22-13 lead. A Lewis assist to Porter Anglin resulted in an easy bucket for the Chiefs and 24-13 score. A layup by Vereen and a three-pointer from the top of the key by Walker made it 29-14 with 3:20 left in the half.

Layups by Bass and a basket and one more three-pointer by Walker, and the Chiefs lead was 38-20 at the half.

The Chiefs followed a three by Lamar early in the second half with two free throws by Walker and Bass for a 42-23 lead. A nice drive and basket by Bass and it was 44-23. Walker added two more three-pointers, and the Chiefs ended the third quarter with a 52-37 lead.

Scoring slowed down in the fourth quarter. Each team scored ten points. Walker added one more basket and a three-point play on a drive and foul to add to his points scored. The Chiefs won it 62-47.

Walker ended the game with 30 points, hitting 10 of 16 shots and was 7 of 12 from three-point range. Caden Bass scored 12 points but suffered an injury late in the game and went to the locker room. One key to the Chiefs winning was 31 rebounds and 14 assists by Chiefs players.

The Chiefs were back on their home court last Tuesday afternoon, this time against the Whiteville Wolfpack in a game played for fifth place in the tournament. The Chiefs Mason Walker continued his three-point accuracy early in the game with four three-pointers and 12 points scored in the Chiefs 32-26 lead at halftime.

The Chiefs fell back into their offensive struggles in the second half of games played. They committed three turnovers while Whiteville battled to take a 34-32 lead with 4:20 on the third quarter clock.

The Chiefs added only three more points in the quarter as Whiteville took control of their boards and held the Chiefs to one shot at best on offense as they took a 43-35 lead after three quarters of play.

The Chiefs and the Wolfpack played a sloppy fourth quarter. Two Whiteville players fouled out and neither team had a solid offense. With half the quarter gone Whiteville led 49-40 and 52-41 with just over two minutes to play. The Chiefs scored their final six points of the game from the foul line and Whiteville won by a 53-47 margin.

Mason Walker ended the game with 18 points and Primere Lewis scored 13 points, but the offense missed. Caden Bass and Whiteville controlled the boards.

The Chiefs finish their holiday basketball with games at Waccamaw High School for the HTC Invitational Tournament on January 2 and 3. The Chiefs open their Beach region schedule January 6 at home against Conway and then travel to Socastee on Friday January 9.