ELIZABETHTOWN – East Bladen missed a potential tying lay-up in the closing minute and Midway made just enough free throws to claim a 57-54 non-conference victory Wednesday night.
The Eagles trailed 50-39 with 5:06 remaining, but senior Juwan Baldwin turned a feed from junior Javant McDowell into a lay-up. McDowell muscled in a follow shot and tacked on a free throw to slice the margin to 50-44.
Baldwin canned 2 free throws, and junior Donevin Keith popped in a 12-footer then added a free throw. McDowell banged in a lay-up off of a turnover to trim the lead to 53-51. An Eagle lay-up that could have tied the score spun out at the 1:03 mark, and the Raiders made 4 of 8 free throws, before Lefrederick Wooten drilled in a 3-point shot to whittle the lead to 57-54 with 3 seconds left.
McDowell led the Eagles with 16 points and 8 rebounds. Wooten followed with 9 points, and Keith, RaSean McKoy and Baldwin scored 7 points each. RaSean McKoy also grabbed 8 rebounds.
McDowell powered in 2 lay-ups, senior Tayshaun Berkeley converted a Keith feed into a lay-up and RaSean McKoy hit a free throw to keep the Eagles within 10-7 in the first period. A pair of Tyler Godwin baskets pushed the Raider lead to 18-9, before McDowell’s lay-up off of a RaSean McKoy assist cut the lead to 18-11 at the break.
Junior Zach Meares knocked in 2 free throws to begin an 8-0 Eagle rally. Another McKoy assist produced a Wooten lay-up, senior Corey McKoy drove for a lay-up, and Wooten cashed in 2 free throws to vault East in front 19-18.
McDowell popped in a 4-footer, Wooten stole the ball and dashed for a lay-up, and RaSean McKoy dropped in a lay-up off of a McDowell pass to keep the Eagles even 25-25 at halftime.
Baldwin drove for a pair of lay-ups to start the third period, but Mickeal Barrow scored on a follow then nailed a 3-ball for a 30-29 Raider lead. A McDowell free throw knotted the score again, before Godwin led an 8-0 Raider run.
Keith answered with an Eagle lay-up, and Rasean McKoy drove for a lay-up and old-fashioned 3-point play. However a trio of Raider free throws kept Midway on top 41-35 at the third quarter break.
Wyatt Holland threw in a 3-point basket and 4 free throws to key the Raider run that opened up the 50-39 lead. Holland led the Raiders with 17 points. Barrow finished with 13 points.
The Eagles, now 2-12, will host Red Springs Friday night.
Midway 18 7 16 16 — 57
East Bladen 11 14 10 19 — 54
MIDWAY (57) — Luke Strickland 2, Mickeal Barrow 13, Jaden Covington 3, Tyler Godwin 6, Cameron Barefoot 3, Thornton Baggett, Wyatt Holland 18, Lane Baggett 5, Jamar Autry 6.
EAST BLADEN (54) — Donevin Keith 7, Tayshaun Berkeley 2, RaSean McKoy 7, Wes Hodge, Zach Meares 4, Javant McDowell 16, Corey McKoy 2, Lefrederick Wooten 9, Juwan Baldwin 7, Jacob Priest.
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