SHANE SHOEMAKER
Writer
The South Pittsburg boys basketball team moved to 9-4 on the season, going 2-1 over the last week.
The Pirates dominated Chattanooga Charter School of Excellence (CCSE) 75-23 on the road. They returned home to beat Sequatchie County 62-47 before falling to Bledsoe County 80-74 in an away game.
A 16-point first quarter gave the Pirates a commanding lead over Sequatchie, who scored just nine points in the opening frame. Nicoli Burton accounted for a whopping 12 of South Pittsburg’s 16.
The Pirates’ defense continued to clamp down, holding Sequatchie to nine points over the next three quarters. Even with a 20-point surge in the fourth, the Indians couldn’t make up enough ground after South Pittsburg built a 43-27 lead through three quarters.
Burton led the Pirates with 29 points, scoring at least four points in every quarter. He also had a strong third quarter, scoring eight of the team’s 15.
Dayon Cooper knocked down South Pittsburg’s lone 3-pointer of the night and finished with 11 points.
J.R. Hardrick added nine points, Brandon Goldsmith scored six, and Alex Phillips finished with four.