St. James (SC) defeated Socastee (SC) 53-47 in a battle of teams located just a few miles from each other on Highway 707 in a consolation bracket game of the 35th Annual Beach Ball Classic.
The game was back and forth throughout as neither team could build a lead of more than seven points. The game was tied eight times and the lead switched sides of the scoreboard six times.
Socastee (5-6; Myrtle Beach, SC) built its largest lead of the game at 14-8 with 7:41 to play in the opening half on an old-fashioned three-point play by Kendrell Generette. Jackson Hurston and William Young responded for St. James (4-6; Murrells Inlet, SC) with back-to-back 3-point baskets to tie the game at 14-14 1:05 later. The teams traded baskets in the closing minutes before Jason Cudd’s layup with 31 seconds to play pulled Socastee to within two points at 23-21 at halftime.
In the second half, Socastee scored the first five points to retake the lead on Cudd’s layup with 13:49 to play. Cameron Williams connected on a 3-pointer to again tie the game at 26-26 with 13:39 on the clock. After trading baskets over the next several minutes, Socastee went on a 7-0 run to open 40-33 lead with 6:15 to play on Zach Werba’s steal and driving layup. The run proved to be fatal for St. James as the Braves led the rest of the way for the win.
St. James was led by Hurston’s game-high 25 points as he connected on 7-of-12 from the field, including 5-of-7 from beyond the 3-point arc. Socastee was led by Cudd’s 23 points and nine rebounds. Cudd connected on 9-of-12 of his shots from the field.
