Junior Michael Kramer keyed a 10-2 closing run that pulled out a 71-62 Four County Conference boys basketball victory for Midway over visiting East Bladen Tuesday night.
Junior Ethan Hines made 2 free throws to pull the Eagles within 60-58 with 2:49 left in the game. After Midway’s Jackson Carr hit a foul shot, East Bladen senior Jermaine Robinson intercepted a Raider pass and dropped in a lay-up that trimmed the margin to 61-60 with 2:08 remaining.
After a Raider time-out, Midway center Paris Smith hauled in a full-court pass for a lay-up. Following an Eagle turnover, Kramer posted up and flipped in a one-hand 4-footer for a 65-60 lead at the 1:31 mark.
East Bladen missed 2 free throws, and Kramer sank 2 foul shots at the other end. Junior Eian Hines canned 2 free throws with 46 seconds on the clock to trim the margin to 67-62, but Kramer and Paris Smith hit 2 free throws each in the closing seconds.
Free throw shooting was a key factor in the decision. The Raiders made 20 of 35 free throws for the game and were successful on 12 of 16 foul shots in the final period. The Eagles connected on just 5 of 17 free throws in the game and made only 2 of 8 foul shots in the fourth quarter.
The Eagles offset their free throw problems by bombing the nets with ten 3-point baskets, while the Raiders did not make a 3-point shot in the game.
Eian Hines drained a trio of 3-point shots and led the Eagles with 17 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals. Junior Denzel Johnson buried a trio of 3-point shots to finish with 9 points, and senior Dayvon Powell followed with 8 points, 6 rebounds and 3 steals.
Freshman Adonis Avery tallied all 7 of his points for the Eagles in the first half. Avery nailed a 3-point shot and added 3 rebounds and 3 steals. Junior Demetrius Wooten drilled in a pair of 3-point shots for 6 points and had 3 rebounds and 2 steals.
Ethan Hines finished with 6 rebounds, 5 points and 5 steals. Sophmore Sincere Smith grabbed 5 rebounds for the Eagles.
The Raiders jumped out to a 7-0 lead, before Avery knocked down a 3-point shot with 2:39 left in the opening period. Midway’s lead grew to 11-3, but Robinson buried a 3-point shot, Avery raced for a transition lay-up and Sincere Smith hit a free throw to pull the Eagles to within 11-9 at the quarter break.
Austin Raynor’s 2 baskets helped Midway stretch their lead to 18-9, but Avery turned a steal into a lay-up, and Eian Hines connected on a 3-point shot.
Powell powered in a one-hander, and senior Chris Cromartie spun to the basket for a lay-up that closed the gap to 19-18. Midway went back up 24-18, but Powell drove for a lay-up then stole the ball and muscled in another lay-up.
Wooten fired in a 3-point shot, and Eian Hines tossed in a runner in transition to tie the game 28-28. Johnson vaulted the Eagles ahead with a 3-point shot, and Ethan Hines skied for a follow shot that gave East a 33-30 halftime lead.
Eian Hines threw in a 3-ball, and Ethan Hines and Powell netted lay-ups in transition for a 40-35 Eagle lead. Midway narrowed the gap to 40-39, but Johnson answered with a pair of long-range 3-pointers that gave East their biggest lead at 46-39.
A rebound basket and a free throw by Eian Hines kept the Eagles on top 49-45 at the quarter break.
Eian Hines popped in a pull-up 8-footer for a 51-47 lead, but Midway rallied for a 52-51 on a pair of Paris Smith buckets. Cromartie converted a Johnson feed into a lay-up, and Wooten drilled a 3-pointer for a 56-52 East lead with 5:53 left.
Kramer led an 8-0 Raider run that pushed Midway back on top 60-56.
Paris Smith topped the Raider scoring with 17 points, and guard Darius Perez followed with 16 points. Kramer finished with 12 points.
The Eagles, now 1-4, will host Clinton Thursday night.
East Bladen (62) –Denzel Johnson 9, Jermaine Robinson 5, Demetrius Wooten 6, Dayvon Powell 8, Ethan Hines 5, Eian Hines 17, Sincere Smith 1, Chris Cromartie 4, Trevor Lloyd, Adonis Avery 7.
About Author
