ECHS boys turn back srappy Stallions

By DAN BISER
Sports Editor

LAKE WACCAMAW – On the strength of some deadly 3-point shooting, the East Columbus Gators boys basketball team successfully defended its ECHS Holiday Tournament championship Thursday night by turning back an inspired South Columbus effort by a 76-61 score.

Five Gator players scored in double figures as Coach Clarence Ganus’ squad improved its season record to 10-3. ECHS connected on nine 3-point goals.

The South Columbus team played the Gators to a 16-16 deadlock at the end of the first quarter, but East Columbus dominated the second quarter for a 37-25 halftime lead and maintained its advantage throughout the second half against a strong Stallion effort.

South Columbus trailed 55-37 after three quarters but tallied 24 points in the final period.

“We came out and shot the ball well,” said Coach Ganus, who withstood a 10-0 Stallion surge midway through the first quarter. “South Columbus played well and put up a very strong challenge. You have to admire the way that their kids played.”

B.J. Patrick scored 17 points while Jim Freeman bucketed 14 and Jermaine Waddell followed with 13. Jerry Moore tallied 11 points and C.J. Ganus came off the bench to provide 11. Patrick and Ganus each had three 3-point goals and reserve Anthony Fields hit two. Patrick and Moore were named to the all-tournament team.

“Our scoring has been pretty well balanced this season and tonight was a good indication of that,” Ganus said.

Derrick Clay scored a game-high 21 point for the Stallions, followed by Brandon Keel with 14 and Romaine Vereen with 11. The loss dropped the Stallion record to 3-6.

“We’re never happy with a loss, but we had a few positive things come from tonight,” said SCHS head Nathan Faulk. “We committed only 12 turnovers and kept playing hard. East Columbus had a great night shooting the ball, and it’s tough to beat that kind of shooting. We were tickled to be playing for a tournament championship and hopefully this experience will make us a better basketball team.”

The Stallions also connected on 15 of 19 attempts from the foul line.

Clay joined Patrick and Moore on the all-tournament team along with Devin Davis of Loris and Corey Thompson of South Robeson.

East Columbus and South Columbus will meet again in a Waccamaw 1A-2A Conference game Tuesday at South Columbus.

“We’ll have to be ready (on Tuesday) because that one is really going to count,” Ganus said.

In Thursday night’s third-place game, Loris defeated South Robeson 60-45.

In last Wednesday’s opening-round games, South Columbus took a 58-49 victory over Loris, and East Columbus defeated South Robeson 82-62.

SOUTH COLUMBUS (61): Edwards 6, Vereen 11, Clay 21, Bryant 9, Keel 15.

EAST COLUMBUS (76): Freeman 14, Waddell 13, Patrick 17, Moore 11, Ganus 11, Fileds 8, Campbell 2.