Tripp Westbrook shoots a 3-pointer for the Raiders.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
After a 3-pointer from Midway senior Jack Hazelbeck sent the game to overtime, Midway’s varsity boys basketball team edged visiting Harnett Central, 49-47, on a putback at the buzzer from senior Jamir McCrae on Monday night.
“We didn’t always play smart, but we played hard, with the exception of the third quarter,” said Midway boys coach Matthew Creech. “We had a little bit of a lull there that got them back into the game and they really took control there in the third quarter. But first, second and fourth quarter and in overtime our guys competed their rear ends off and made big plays. And I think the thing I’m most proud of is guys that didn’t touch the court still contributed and brought great enthusiasm. Just a great home win for us.”
McCrae had 11 points and seniors Casey Culbreth and Israel Cook had 10 points apiece to lead the Raiders (5-1).
Tripp Westbrook had seven points, Hazelbeck had six points, Mbagnick Dione had four points and Trey Gregory had one point.
Senior Jahlil Surles had 15 points and senior Amare Boone had 10 points to lead the Trojans (2-5).
Johnathan Patterson and Nick Avery had seven points apiece. D.J. Brown had four points. Bryson Monroe had three points. Kendarius Smith had one point.
With Midway leading 25-19 at halftime, Central came out of the break with an 18-2 run to lead 37-27 at the end of the third quarter.
But Midway rallied in the fourth, outscoring Central 17-7, with Hazelbeck’s three with about 12 seconds left sending the game to overtime.
“I wasn’t pleased with how we executed a lot of our stuff tonight, but Jack executed that to perfection,” Creech said. “That was a set we drew up and he runs off, gets his feet set and shoots it with confidence. He’s a guy we trust when the ball’s in his hands to do good things.”
In the extra frame, Central had the ball with about four seconds remaining. Coming out of a timeout, Midway stole the inbounds pass. Boone’s defense forced a miss on Westbrook’s attempt at the game-winner, but McCrae was there to tap the ball back up and into the basket as time expired to give the Raiders the win.
“Anthony Graham on the ball gives good ball pressure, Tripp gets the deflection and Jamir goes and cleans it up,” Creech said. “I couldn’t have asked for more from our guys. They all competed their butts off.”
Midway also won the girls varsity game, besting Central by a score of 50-21.
“I thought we played really hard defensively,” said Midway girls coach Matthew Bagwell. “All of our offense tonight stemmed from the defensive end of the court. We showed a lot of different looks and it panned out well.”
Freshman Lizzy Kirkland paced the Raiders (4-2) with 15 points.
“She’s had three games in a row that have been pretty solid on the offensive end of the court,” Bagwell said. “Offensively, we kind of go as she goes right now. She’s been a really good addition to our team.”
Morgan Williams had nine points. Peyton Herring had seven points. Kara Beth Benton had six points. McKenzie Williams had five points. Jaycie Byrd, Mallory Baggett, Megan Jackson and Lindsey Royal had two points apiece.
Junior Sondra Berry led the Trojans (0-6) with 11 points.
Leah Greer had four points. Victoria Langdon and TaNira Edwards had two points apiece. Nylah Cummings and Ella Prado had one point apiece.
Midway outscored Central 13-2 in the first quarter, 13-8 in the second, 14-5 in the third and 10-6 in the fourth.
Midway travels to Sampson County rival Lakewood for a nonconference game on Tuesday before opening Southeastern Athletic 2-A Conference play at home against East Bladen on Friday. Harnett Central is at home against nonconference Chatham Central on Thursday.
Reid Minschew blocks a shot for Harnett Central.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Jahlil Surles puts up a 3-pointer for the Trojans.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Nick Avery rises to dunk the ball for Harnett Central.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Jack Hazelbeck goes up to tie the score from behind the arc.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Jamir McCrae gets the game-winning hoop for Midway.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Peyton Herring scores for the Midway girls.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Leah Greer goes up to score for visiting Central.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Morgan Williams fires from beyond the arc for the Lady Raiders
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Lizzy Kirkland scores on a drive for the host Midway girls.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
Sondra Berry gets a basket for the Lady Trojans.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
TaNira Edwards gets a steal for Harnett Central.
(Dunn Area Sports Photo/John Lucas)
