road win over Mustangs
ROWLAND – West Columbus High boys basketball coach Michael Powell predicted “a wild ride” in the newly formed Southeastern 1A-2A Conference this season, and so far it has been just that for the Vikings.
On Tuesday, the Vikings managed to even their conference record at 2-2 by holding off the host South Robeson Mustangs 78-72.
The Vikings’ season record climbed to 10-2 as junior guard Chaz Everette led WCHS scorers with 22 points. The Vikings held a 37-35 halftime lead and the score was tied at 50 after three quarters. Willie Smith contributed 15 points, followed by Mikey Bilal with 13 and Alberto De La Rosa with 10.
South Robeson, whose season record dipped to 3-12, was led by the hot-shooting trio of Bradley Strickland, Terrance McCallum and Chris Misher. Strickland scored 21 points, including five 3-point goals, McCallum had 20 and Fisher had 16.
West Columbus has suffered conference losses to Fairmont and East Bladen but has posted an 8-0 record this season against teams from the Waccamaw Conference.
In the girls game, winless West Columbus put up probably its best effort of the season in a 46-43 loss to the Lady Mustangs.
The Lady Vikings led 25-20 at halftime before South Robeson took a 38-37 lead into the final quarter.
Brittany Parker had 17 points for the WCHS girls and Whitney Baker had 14. Alex Ward added nine. The loss put the Lady Viking record at 0-12.
Veronica Brown’s 16 points led South Robeson while Leah Goins added 10. The Lady Mustangs improved to 6-9 for the season.
West Columbus will hit the road again when it plays tonight at West Bladen and on Friday at St. Pauls.
GIRLS GAME
| W. Columbus | 10 | 15 | 12 | 6 | - | 43 | |
| S. Robeson | 9 | 11 | 18 | 8 | - | 46 |
WEST COLUMBUS (43): Baker 14, Thompson 2, Bradford 1, Ward 9, Parker 17.
SOUTH ROBESON (46): Oxendine 4, Williams 2, Brown 16, Goins 10, Evans 7, Jones 6.
BOYS GAME
| W. Columbus | 22 | 15 | 13 | 28 | - | 78 | |
| S. Robeson | 16 | 19 | 15 | 22 | - | 72 |
WEST COLUMBUS (78): Everette 22, Bilal 13, Green 2, De La Rosa 10, Leggett 6, Andrews 9, W. Smith 16.
SOUTH ROBESON (72): McKoy 3, Strickland 21, McCallum 20, Hunt 4, Fisher 16, Williams 6.
