North Myrtle Beach Times Serving our Community and the Grand Strand for over 50 years
By John Smithson
The North Myrtle Beach Chiefs followed up their big win in Myrtle Beach with a 61-31 loss to Conway last Tuesday and 74-49 win over Socastee on senior night last Friday night.
The Chiefs got off to a bad start against the Tigers as Conway outscored the Chiefs 16-3 in the first quarter of that game. The Chiefs had a better offensive second quarter with a 10-9 point advantage giving Conway a 25-13 halftime lead.
The Chiefs stayed almost even in the third quarter, still trailing 37-24 after the third quarter of play. Conway then closed the game on a 24-6 run for their 61-31 region victory.
The Chiefs were certainly affected by a leg injury to Mason Walker in the game, losing him for not only the game, but also the rest of the season. Caden Bass and Reo Stevenson each scored 8 points for the Chiefs who made only 1 of 8 three-pointers but were 8 for 8 from the foul line. The Chiefs also had 22 turnovers in the game.
Jordan Jenkins led the Conway scoring with 16 points and Tramaine Hunter scored 14 points.
Last Friday night the Chiefs five seniors, Eric Lewis, Bricey Gore, Luke Barrett, Primere Lewis and Owen Phillips, started the game on senior night. Gore got the Chiefs offense going with a basket and three-pointer for a 5-5 tie score. Barrett sank a free throw and Porter Anglin’s jump shot made it 8-5 with 3:21 on the clock. Conway tied the score with a three but Reo Stevenson’s basket and two free throws and steal and layup by Caden Bass closed the quarter with the Chiefs leading 14-12.
The Chiefs offense started slowly in the second quarter with the Chiefs scoreless until Tavion Vereen hit a three for a 17-16 Chiefs advantage. Taron Scott’s basket and a Stevenson free throw tied the score at 20-20 and 3:44 on the clock. The Chiefs then outscored the Tigers 10-2 over the next two minutes for a 30-22 lead, with Bass responsible for 7 of those points with a basket, two free throws and a three-pointer.
Bass then added a drive the length of the court and two more free throws for a 34-24 lead. In the last minute of the half Bass added two free throws on a basket attempt and four free throws on a technical foul and basket, while Chance Floyd added two baskets on offensive rebounds, the last one at the buzzer for a 42-27 Chiefs halftime lead.
Conway scored the first two points of the third quarter, their only points of the quarter. The Chiefs continued their offensive success with Bass scoring six points on a three, a basket and free throw, and Primere Lewis finally joining the scoring with a three-pointer and three baskets. Jayden Chestnut and Chance Floyd also added baskets, and the Chiefs lead had grown to 61-29.
Chestnut scored first for the Chiefs in the fourth quarter on a rebound basket and Tavion Vereen’s three, and a five-point quarter, helped the Chiefs finish the game and a very successful senior night with a 74-49 victory. Bass ended up with 24 points on the night and Vereen scored 11 points, with Chance Floyd adding 10 points. Primere Lewis scored 9 points. Stevenson, Gore and Chestnut each scored 5 points. Ten different Chiefs players scored in the game.
Last weekend’s snowstorm that closed schools Monday and Tuesday changed this week’s schedule. The Tuesday game with Carolina Forest probably moved to Wednesday and the Chiefs home game tomorrow with Myrtle Beach should stay as scheduled.
