Myrtle Beach, SC – December 29, 2023 – Winston Salem Christian (NC) emerged victorious over Blue Ridge Academy (VA) with a solid 61-46 win in the semifinal of the 2023 Beach Ball Classic. The game, held at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, saw Winston Salem Christian improve their record to 14-4.
Winston Salem Christian’s consistent offense was led by Lewis Walker’s 18 points and 7 rebounds. Isaiah Washington contributed 15 points, including two 3-pointers. The team showed strong shooting skills throughout the match, with a 46% field goal percentage and an impressive 73.3% free throw percentage.
Blue Ridge Academy, despite the loss, showed resilience. Shanon Simango’s 8 points and 10 rebounds stood out, alongside contributions from Dreylan Creasy and Emilio Nabli, who both added 8 points. However, the team struggled with a lower field goal percentage of 37% and could convert only 53.8% of their free throws.
The game was marked by Winston Salem Christian’s control over the court, leading for 30:38 minutes and reaching their largest lead of 18 points in the fourth quarter. In contrast, Blue Ridge Academy led for just 33 seconds.
Key to Winston Salem Christian’s win were their 34 points in the paint and 17 points off turnovers. Their defense was equally impressive, limiting Blue Ridge Academy to just 20 points in the paint and capitalizing on 16 turnovers.
Officials Jared Torrence, T. Merck, and Kenny Johnson oversaw the game, which featured intense competition and high-energy play from both teams.
Winston Salem Christian now advances to the final of the Beach Ball Classic Prep Tournament tomorrow at 5:15 PM, demonstrating their prowess and teamwork in a game that was a blend of strategy and skill.
[Source: Official Basketball Box Score]
