Allison Belflowers shoots a 3-pointer for the Midway girls.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Midway’s varsity basketball teams both suffered setbacks against visiting East Bladen on Monday.
Turnovers and cold shooting were costly for Midway’s girls in a 48-43 loss to East Bladen.
Midway shot a combined 18-for-77 (23 percent) from the field and 4-for-15 (27 percent) at the free throw line and committed 26 turnovers in the contest.
“That’s the story in any game you play,” said Midway girls coach Allen McLamb. “Shooting was horrible. And it was just around the rim. We couldn’t make anything at the rim. We didn’t box out terribly, I didn’t think. We did a pretty good job boxing out (Midway combined for 51 rebounds, including 23 on offense). We had 26 turnovers. We don’t finish around the rim and make the layups. And it was still a three- or five-point game right down to the end. All that was, was just effort in the second half on defense. We talked before about coming into the gym ready to play. Tonight, we didn’t come out ready to play.”
Sophomore Kris’shyia McKoy had 13 points and six steals to lead the Raiders (2-1).
Junior Makenzi Hudson was a strong presence in the paint for Midway. She tallied four points, 13 rebounds and two blocks.
“Makenzi’s stepping up,” McLamb said. “She’s coming alive.”
Allison Belflowers had eight points. Jenna Pope had six points and seven rebounds. Caitlyn Holland had six points, six rebounds and four assists. Rylie Williams had four points, 10 rebounds and four assists. Kaylah Jackson had two points and seven rebounds.
Senior Patience Ward had 16 points, sophomore Alexus Mitchell had 13 points and sophomore Mya McDonald had 11 points to lead the Eagles (3-0).
With East Bladen leading 31-17 early in the third quarter, Midway rallied with a 19-6 run, cutting the lead to just one on a score from Holland late in the fourth quarter.
But that was close as Midway would get, as East Bladen outscored Midway 11-7 down the stretch.
Scoring droughts to start the first and third quarters and a size disadvantage hurt Midway in a 53-41 loss to East Bladen in the boys game.
“I really want to credit our guys,” said first-year Midway coach Aaron Lane. “They played with unbelievable heart tonight. East Bladen brought something we just couldn’t match and that’s length. And we weren’t able to penetrate their zone like we wanted to, because of their length inside. We just were not able to get that initial pass inside to the high post, which stopped us from working inside-out. Times tonight when we were able to work it inside-out, we got some good looks off the initial pass. But I’m proud of our guys for the effort. And I’m proud of them, because we’ve only practiced five times together now as a team. And to see what kind of product we’ve been able to put on the floor with five practices, I’m excited for what the rest of the season holds for our guys.”
Junior Lane Baggett had 10 points and junior Tyler Godwin had eight points to pace the Raiders (1-1).
Thornton Baggett had seven points. Luke Strickland had six points. Cameron Barefoot and Wyatt Holland had three points apiece. Mickael Barrow and Jaden Covington had two points apiece.
Junior Javant McDowell had 14 points and senior Juwan Baldwin had 10 points to lead the Eagles.
Midway scored just once from the field in the first quarter and the Eagles took advantage, going on a 10-4 run through the quarter.
Midway battled back in the second quarter, going on a 10-2 run and taking the lead on a score from Lane Baggett halfway through the quarter. But with the score tied 17-17 late in the quarter, McDowell ended the quarter with a dunk to give East Bladen a 19-17 halftime lead.
Midway did not score in the third quarter until past the halfway point and East Bladen capitalized with a 9-0 run and led the rest of the way.
“They killed us on the boards in the second half, getting second-chance baskets,” Lane said. “That kills a team like us, whose scoring is at a minimal right now, trying to find an identity offensively. There were some chances we had in the fourth quarter to build ourselves back in the game and then they’d get a second-chance opportunity and take the air out of it.”
Midway is off until Dec. 3, when the Raiders travel to Union.
Kris’shyia McKoy scores for the Lady Raiders against East Bladen.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Caitlyn Holland scores for Midway on Monday night.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Makenzi Hudson gets two points for the Lady Raiders.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Cameron Barefoot shoots from beyond the arc for the Midway boys.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Thornton Baggett puts up a 3-pointer for the Raiders.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
