CERRO GORDO – West Columbus sophomore guard Courtney Hayes scored 10 of his team-high 16 points in the fourth quarter Tuesday night to help secure a key 67-59 Southeastern 1A-2A Conference basketball win over the visiting St. Pauls Bulldogs.

West Columbus, which also got 11 points and 12 steals by junior Chaz Everette, improved to 8-3 in the conference and 17-3 for the season. The Vikings will close regular-season play Friday when it entertains West Bladen with the winner taking the league runnerup spot behind first place Fairmont.

West Columbus played host to South Columbus Wednesday in a non-conference match-up.

Zack Andrews had 14 points and Willie Smith had nine points and 10 rebounds for the Vikings, who led 24-19 at halftime and 45-37 at the end of three quarters.

St. Pauls’ K. Spearman was the game’s high scorer with 18 points. T. Pone had 12, followed by A. Bethea with 10.

St. Pauls fell to 5-6 in conference play.

St. Pauls won the girls game 52-20.

BOYS GAME

ST. PAULS (59): Pone 12, Spearman 18, Bethea 8, Shaw 4, Whitted 3, McNeil 2, Ray 2.

WEST COLUMBUS (67): Hayes 16, Andrews 14, Everette 11, W. Smith 9, De La Rosa 8, Bilal 7, Tyler 1, Leggett 1.