Beaufort High boys basketball drew a tough opening matchup for a No. 1 seed, but the Eagles passed their first postseason test Thursday, as Michael Dennison, Zyrin Odom, and James Dennison all posted double-doubles to lead Beaufort to a 57-49 win over visiting North Myrtle Beach in the Class 4A playoffs.
Michael Dennison racked up 14 points and 20 rebounds, Zyrin Odom collected 14 points and 10 boards, and James Dennison contributed 11 points and 15 rebounds as the Eagles used their size advantage in the frontcourt to hold off a pesky Chiefs squad in a game that was tight throughout.
The Eagles scored the first seven points of the game, capped off by one of Anderson Jones’ trio of 3-pointers on the night, but the Chiefs settled in and closed out the quarter with a bucket to stay within six. Beaufort started the second quarter with a 9-3 run, but North Myrtle Beach scored the final seven points of the half to pull within 20-15 at halftime.
The margin hovered around five until the Chiefs clawed within one with less than three minutes left in the quarter, but an Odom bucket pushed it back to nine before a NMB triple made it 36-30 heading to the fourth. A Jones 3-pointer and a pair of free throws from James Dennison stretched it to double-digits, but the Chiefs chipped away and another triple pulled them within two, but Beaufort came up with some key stops and closed it out at the line.
The Eagles (15-5) will host fifth-ranked West Florence (22-3) in a huge second-round test at 6 p.m. Saturday with the winner advancing to face either North Augusta or Hartsville on Thursday.