MYRTLE BEACH, SC — St. John’s College (10-2) came into the 2024 Beach Ball Classic on a mission—and Myrtle Beach High School (5-3) became their first statement. The Cadets steamrolled the Seahawks 81-30, showcasing depth, dominance, and defense in a game that was never in doubt after the first quarter.
Let’s talk numbers: 35 turnovers forced. 56 points in the paint. A 49-point contribution from the bench. Oh, and a 51-point lead at one point. St. John’s didn’t just beat Myrtle Beach—they completely dismantled them.
Early on, it looked like Myrtle Beach might hang around. They actually led 7-0 midway through the first quarter. But then St. John’s flipped the switch. Omari Witherspoon’s fast-break bucket sparked a 16-3 run to close the quarter, and by halftime, the Cadets were already cruising with a 39-20 lead.
And then the third quarter happened. St. John’s turned up the defensive pressure, holding Myrtle Beach to just seven points in the frame. The Seahawks’ backcourt couldn’t breathe, let alone dribble, as the Cadets’ press repeatedly turned steals into points. By the fourth, it was a full-on clinic.
Omari Witherspoon and Jon Barton led the balanced attack with nine points apiece, but the real star was the team’s depth. Jymin Veney added 10 points off the bench, and Kaiden Augueta nailed a three-pointer to cap a relentless offensive assault.
On the other side, James Watson tried to hold things together for Myrtle Beach, scoring 11 points. Matthew Campbell chipped in eight points and seven rebounds, but it was far from enough. The Seahawks were buried under an avalanche of turnovers—35 of them, leading directly to 53 St. John’s points.
“They’re relentless,” Myrtle Beach coach Eric Lyons said. “Every time we tried to adjust, they were already a step ahead. They’re one of the best teams we’ve faced.”
St. John’s coach Patrick O’Connor praised his team’s effort but emphasized they’re not done. “This was a great start, but we know tougher games are ahead. We have to keep that same intensity.”
For Myrtle Beach, it’s back to the drawing board in the consolation bracket. For St. John’s, it’s onto the next round, where they’ll look to keep their foot on the gas. Judging by this performance, that’s bad news for whoever’s next.
