The Latta Vikings fell 64-53 to Johnsonville on Monday night but earned a 53-33 win over Creek Bridge on Tuesday to improve to 5-1 in the region and 6-6 on the season in boys varsity basketball action.

Latta traveled to Johnsonville on Monday to make up last week’s missed game and got things started with a 19-15 lead in the first quarter. But the Flashes went 14-13 in the second to trail 32-29 at the half. The Vikings held off a rally in the third as they went 14-13, but the Flashes poured in the points in the fourth quarter to outscore Latta 22-9 and claim a 64-53 win.

Johnsonville’s Josh Franklin scored a game-high 20 points and picked up nine rebounds to lead the Flashes, and Tushai Edwards added 11 in the win. Shaquille Crouch scored nine, Evan Morris added eight, and J.T. Eaddy and Arkelious Williams each earned seven with Jonathan Long contributing two points in the win.

R.J. McClam scored 17 points and Tyrell Sabb added 16 to lead the Vikings in the effort. Kartilus McFadden scored 14, Diez Mungro added four, and Jordan Simms and Donell Stanley each earned two points for Latta.

On Tuesday, Latta traveled to Creek Bridge for a 53-33 win. Both teams added nine points in the first quarter, but Latta outscored the Warriors 20-0 in the second to take a firm lead. The Vikings went 15-12 in the third quarter and a 12-9 rally from Creek Bridge in the fourth wasn’t enough to close the gap.

Tyrell Sabb led the Vikings with a game-high 22 points and R.J. McClam added 10 in the win. Jordan Simms scored five, Eric McGirt earned four, and Kartilus McFadden added three, with Quane Williams, Chakeem Blake, and Donell Stanley each contributing two points for Latta.

Dejuan Surrencey led Creek Bridge with seven points, with Barnell and Quishon Willis each earning six. Jalen Eaddy and William Brown each added four, and Tyson Bromell and Myles Branham each scored three in the effort.

Latta improved to 6-6 overall and 5-1 in Region 8-A. Along with a win over Lake View on Tuesday, Johnsonville improved to 12-6 overall and remained undefeated at 6-0 in Region 8-A.

The Flashes were ranked ninth in the state in Class A boys basketball in the latest South Carolina Basketball Coaches Association polls. Whale Branch was ranked first, followed by St. Joseph’s, Fox Creek, Calhoun Falls, and Greenville Tech.

Latta will be at Hannah-Pamplico this Friday but the Vikings will be home next week to finish out the regular season, starting with a makeup game against Green Sea-Floyds on Monday, Johnsonville on Tuesday, and Lake View on Thursday. Game times are set for 6:00 p.m., so make plans to attend to support our teams!