MYRTLE BEACH, SC — Pace Academy (7-3) turned a close game into a hard-fought victory in the consolation bracket of the Beach Ball Classic Prep Division, beating Berean Baptist Academy (11-7) by a score of 66-58. The Knights used relentless defense and timely shooting to fend off the persistent Bulldogs.
This one was all about pace—literally and figuratively. The Knights weathered an early nine-point deficit, flipped the script with a high-energy second quarter, and never looked back. Lyndell Buckingham was the catalyst, scoring 20 points on 8-of-19 shooting while dishing out five assists and adding a pair of steals. Amarion Blythe chipped in 17 points, including three clutch three-pointers, and Elijah Herron dominated the glass with 12 rebounds to go along with 11 points.
But don’t let the final score fool you—Berean Baptist gave them all they could handle. Josiah King Sanders was electric for the Bulldogs, leading all scorers with 19 points while hitting two from deep. Jossiah Johnson added 18 points and pulled down 10 boards in a strong double-double performance. Their early chemistry had Berean rolling, but turnovers (21 of them) proved to be their undoing.
The first quarter belonged to the Bulldogs, who rode Sanders’ hot hand to a 16-17 lead. But Buckingham took over in the second, sparking a 19-point surge that sent Pace into the locker room tied at 36. The third quarter was the turning point, as the Knights ratcheted up the defensive pressure, forcing seven turnovers and holding Berean to just 10 points.
Down the stretch, Blythe’s three-pointer with 1:38 left put the game out of reach, sealing a gritty win for Pace. Despite shooting just 25% from beyond the arc, the Knights’ 25 points off turnovers made the difference.
“I told the guys at halftime, ‘We’ve got to win the hustle plays,’” said Pace coach Sharman White. “We made the extra pass, boxed out, and stayed composed when they made their runs. That’s what won it.”
For Berean Baptist, the loss was bittersweet. Their frontcourt duo of Sanders and Johnson shined, but the team’s inability to handle Pace’s pressure proved costly.
“This is a tough one to swallow,” Berean coach James Strong admitted. “We gave them too many easy points off our mistakes. But I’m proud of how we battled.”
With the win, Pace Academy advances in the consolation bracket, keeping their tournament hopes alive. For Berean Baptist, it’s a hard-fought end to their Beach Ball journey—but they leave with heads held high after a spirited performance.
(Photos By: Kyd B. Wilde | IG: KBWtheory)
