MYRTLE BEACH, SC — The Beach Ball Classic is known for drama, and the semifinal matchup between Bella Vista (AZ) and Winston Salem Christian (NC) on Sunday night delivered an instant classic. In a game that saw 11 lead changes and five ties, Bella Vista narrowly escaped with a 67-65 victory to secure a spot in the championship game.
It was a contest of tough competition and resilience, punctuated by high-pressure plays and some late-game heroics. Bella Vista’s Miles Sadler was the story of the night, pouring in a game-high 20 points and sinking a pair of clutch free throws with under a minute left to seal the deal.
“Those moments, that’s what we live for,” Sadler said postgame. “We trust each other, and tonight, it paid off.”
Early Fireworks, Mid-Game Chess
Winston Salem Christian (15-4) started strong, riding the hot hand of Adriel Nyorha, who tallied 15 points and was a perfect 2-for-2 from the free-throw line. Elton James owned the boards, grabbing a team-high eight rebounds and keeping his team competitive in second-chance opportunities.
Bella Vista (9-1) answered back with relentless energy, owning the paint with 36 points inside and dominating second-chance opportunities with 17 points off offensive boards. Jaion Pitt added 13 points for Bella Vista, while Lucas Toukam chipped in 12 on efficient 4-of-5 shooting.
Defensive Battle in the Trenches
Both teams had their defensive moments. Bella Vista’s aggressive perimeter defense held Winston Salem Christian to just 25% from deep in the first half. Meanwhile, Winston Salem Christian kept Bella Vista’s bench contributors in check, despite Rokiem Green’s spark of nine points off the pine.
“Both teams left it all out there,” Winston Salem coach Blake Shotwell said. “We had our chances, but credit to Bella Vista—they made the plays when it mattered.”
Final Minutes: A Chess Match
Trailing by two with 31 seconds remaining, Winston Salem Christian turned to Nyorha, but his contested jumper rimmed out. Bella Vista’s Sadler secured the rebound and coolly sank two free throws on the ensuing possession to push the lead to four. A quick three-pointer by Alex Pissis gave Winston Salem a lifeline, but time expired before they could foul.
“That’s championship basketball,” Bella Vista coach Kyle Weaver said. “These games are won possession by possession. Our guys locked in.”
Looking Ahead
Bella Vista’s victory sets up a tantalizing championship showdown with 1 and 1 Prep Monday at 5:15 PM in the Prep Division Championship game, while Winston Salem Christian will turn its focus to the 3rd place game tomorrow at 1:45 PM versus Balboa (FL) in the consolation bracket.
As the Beach Ball Classic continues, one thing is certain: these boys left an indelible mark on the hardwood in Myrtle Beach.
“I’ll remember this one for a long time,” Sadler said, grinning. “Now, it’s time to finish the job.”
(Photos By: Kyd B. Wilde | IG: KBWtheory)
