FAIRMONT — With every loss during the four-game stretch to start the season, confidence was fading for a Fairmont boys basketball team going through growing pains.
For the players and Fairmont coach Montrell McNair, that was the toughest stint the regional power had been through. Tuesday provided a renewed sense of confidence in the form of a 47-37 home Three Rivers Conference win over East Bladen that felt like a collective exhale for the Golden Tornadoes.
“There was nothing better than getting that zero off the other side. It was a haunting nightmare,” McNair said. “They had to learn to compete and come out and finish, and they finished tonight.”
“Moving forward, it gives us confidence to play against some of the other teams in our conference and getting ready for the (Robeson County) Shootout.”
Fairmont (1-4, 1-3 TRC) looked like the Fairmont of past years with its defense and fast-paced offense that took the lead from East Bladen (1-5, 1-3 TRC) early in the second quarter, and battled before pulling away late in the fourth quarter.
For the Golden Tornadoes that are still trying to establish roles, senior forward Jayvon Morris has a clear understanding of his niche, and put it to use in the win.
“I felt like they needed me to step up and make big plays,” Morris said after his 26-point, 14-rebound showing. “They were giving attack holes and they were letting me attack so I kept attacking and then I dished when I could.”
Morris scored three straight buckets in the second quarter to give Fairmont the 18-14 lead it turned into a 25-17 advantage. After the Eagles chipped away and took a 29-27 lead midway through the third quarter, it was Morris again providing the scoring lift with six straight points to give back the Golden Tornadoes’ advantage that they held on to for the remainder of the game.
Morris showed signs of his ability to take over ballgames last week as he was a main source of scoring for Fairmont down the stretch against Whiteville in the loss. The eight-point Whiteville loss, coupled with close calls to West Columbus and St. Pauls were painful, but also served lessons.
“At halftime, Coach told us to keep the same intensity and the same energy, but he wanted it better on the defensive end,” Morris said. “The difference was tonight we wanted to get that one win because that one win is going to build our confidence more and more and more.”
In the second half, Fairmont maintained its margin and it did so behind the play of its defense that stepped in passing lanes and picked the pockets of opposing guards. Junior guard Tyrese Bradley had a game-high 10 steals.
“We had a good defensive game. The offense was stagnant, but that was a good defensive game,” McNair said.
Kobe Davis aided Morris’ scoring in the second quarter, scoring all of his six points in a 40-second stretch as Fairmont took an 11-point lead at one point in the frame.
Javant McDowell had 12 points to lead the Eagles.
Fairmont opens play in the Robeson County Shootout on Wednesday against Dillon at home.
East Bladen routs Lady Tornadoes
FAIRMONT — Behind a 33-point first quarter, the East Bladen girls basketball team captured a 66-17 win at Fairmont on Tuesday.
East Bladen (7-0, 4-0 TRC) took a 54-12 lead over Fairmont (0-5, 0-5 TRC) at the half after following up the first-quarter performance with 21 points in the second.
The Lady Eagles were led in scoring by Patience Ward with 16 points, and UNCP signee Jatyra Moore-Peterson with 12 points. Fairmont’s Symiah McNeill had six points to lead her team.
St. Pauls splits with Vikings
ST. PAULS — The St. Pauls girls basketball team continued their roll in a sixth straight win over West Columbus at home, 62-44, while the boys basketball team lost 59-53 to drop back-to-back games on Tuesday.
T.J. Eichelberger scored 28 points for the St. Pauls girls (6-1, 5-0 TRC). The sophomore guard added 10 steals and eight rebounds. Also for the Lady Bulldogs, Diamond Simms-Moore had 13 points and 11 boards and Shakiya Floyd had 12 points and 10 steals.
West Columbus’ Tah’nijah McKoy had 15 points.
The St. Pauls boys (3-4, 3-2 TRC) were unable to keep up with the Vikings late, after entering the fourth quarter tied at 35.
Emonta Smith led St. Pauls with 12 points, all of which came in the second half, and Caleb Henderson chipped in 10 points. West Columbus’ Ty’Quawn Johnson had 19 points.
St. Pauls host Lake View in the first round of the Robeson County Shootout on Wednesday.
