Trae Churn (34) rolls one in off the glass against Spring Valley Tuesday. (Photo/Kristy Kimball Massey)
BLYTHEWOOD – Spring Valley connected on their final 10 free throws as they outscored Blythewood 21-15 in the fourth quarter to sink the Bengals Tuesday night 65-55.
The Vikings had three players score in double figures as USC commit Perry Dozier Jr. led all scorers with 18. Blythewood has already battled another top recruit − Tevin Mack − when the Bengals fell to Dreher 75-65 back in December. Mack has committed to Virginia Commonwealth University and before the game Blythewood head coach Zeke Washington told The Voice that playing top recruit helps his players progress.
“Our kids want to be the best so you have to play the best,” he said. “Those guys are some of the best in the nation and it helps our kids improve themselves.”
The Bengals began the game with an explosion as they mounted a 10-0 lead over the Vikings. Trae Churn scored six points early in the contest and ended with a team-high 14. Washington has been pleased with Churn’s progression in his junior season.
“(Churn) came in as an undersized player but he competes and he works hard,” Washington said. “He makes things happen for us. He goes and gets the ball you don’t have to give him the ball. He is our leading rebounder and his two point field goal percentage is the highest on the team. He is just a work horse.”
Despite the early boost, the Bengals started to stagger halfway through the first quarter. With the score 12-2, Spring Valley’s Noah Harper poured in six straight points to fuel an 8-0 run to cut the Blythewood lead to 12-10.
Blythewood was able to stay out in front of Spring Valley until the final seconds of the first quarter when Malik Dunbar used a one-handed flush dunk to put the Vikings on top 19-18 at the buzzer.
Spring Valley held the lead for the majority of the second quarter as they outscored the Bengals 14-11. Dozier began to heat up as he netted eight points in the quarter on the way to a 33-29 lead at halftime.
Blythewood never led in the second half. Near the end of the third quarter, Churn electrified the home crowd with a one-handed jam that pulled the Bengals to within two points at 41-39, however the Bengals were never able to get over the hump as the Vikings continued to stay out in front. Blythewood was force to foul in the final minutes of the fourth quarter and the Vikings did not miss from the free throw line. With the loss, Blythewood fell to 11-7 overall and 1-1 in region play. Next up, the Bengals will travel to Lugoff-Elgin on Friday.
Spring Valley 65, BHS 55
SV: 19-14-11-21 – 65
BH: 18-11-11-15 – 55
Individual Scoring – Blythewood: Keith Matthews 9, Josh Bowers 5, Eli Lake 7, Khalil Harris 9, Cameron Womack 3, Donovan Leach 6, Jacobi Bailey 2, Trae Churn 14. Spring Valley: Kenneth Legette 5, Noah Harper 10, Malik Dunbar 12, Perry Dozier Jr. 18, Marcus Holloway 5, Kendall Wall 5, Israel Wall 2, Jalen Williams 8.
