FAIRMONT –A disastrous second quarter, followed by an equally tough third quarter sent the visiting Knights of West Bladen to an 81-39 loss against Fairmont in the teams’ Three Rivers Conference opener on Friday.

The loss moves West Bladen to 0-2, 0-1 on the young season, while the Golden Tornadoes improved to 3-0, 1-0.

The two teams jabbed each other throughout the first frame, but Fairmont managed to open a 19-13 lead going into the second stanza.

That’s when the Tornadoes began to whirl.

Using balanced scoring around the court, Fairmont erupted for a 33-point quarter tat all but put the game on ice early. The Tornadoes went into the locker room at halftime holding a comfortable 52-27 lead.

Despite West Bladen coach Travis Pait’s words of encouragement and adjustment during the intermission, the Knights couldn’t solve the Fairmont attack in the second half. The Tornadoes blisted the net for 21 points in the third quarter, while holding West Bladen to just eight points and extending the lead to 73-35.

Neither team could muster much offense in the fourth quarter, but Fairmont still outscored West Bladen by an 8-4 margin to seal the 42-point win.

Tyre Boykin led the Knights with nine points, while Kerron Washington added eight and Scott Bowen had five.

West Bladen will travel to face Red Springs in a Three Rivers Conference game at 8 p.m. on Tuesday.

Staff report