By John Clark
BLADENBORO — Senior Morgan Williams sank 2 free throws with 44 seconds left to play that lifted Midway to a 41-39 Southeastern Athletic Conference girls’ basketball victory over West Bladen Tuesday night.
The Lady Knights had taken a 39-38 lead on sophomore Natalee Sykes’ free throw with 1:44 on the clock and could have padded the lead but missed a lay-up at the 1:19 mark. After Midway went up, a West shot attempt missed in the closing seconds.
West Bladen, now 0-7 in SAC and 4-12 overall, will visit SAC co-leader St. Pauls Friday night, while Midway (2-5, 9-9) will host Clinton.
Sophomore Kali Allen nailed a 3-point shot to start the game, and senior Mallory Bryan stole the ball and raced for a lay-up and a 5-0 lead. Allen scored on a follow shot, and Bryan turned an assist from junior Holland Davis into a lay-up and a 9-2 lead. Junior Alina Chavez tossed in 2 free throws to keep West up 11-7.
Sykes buried a 3-point shot, and senior Kiera Lewis stole the ball and flipped in a lay-up for a 16-9 Lady Knight lead. Chavez cashed in 2 more free throws, and Bryan drove for a lay-up and a 20-14 halftime lead.
Bryan canned a free throw then drove for another lay-up and a 23-20 West lead, but Peyton Herring rallied Midway with a trio of baskets. Four straight free throws from Morgan Williams put the Lady Raiders on top 24-23.
Lewis and Bryan knocked in a free throw each for a 25-24 Lady Knight lead, but Kyleigh Stonerock’s follow shot put the visitors up 28-25. Lewis drove for an acrobatic 3-point play that tied the score 28-28. Sykes netted a free throw to knot the score again 29-29 at the quarter break.
A Chavez free throw and a follow shot by Sykes kept West within 33-32. Sykes and Midway’s Ariel Pegues traded 3-point baskets, before Morgan Williams’ basket put Midway up 38-35. Bryan swished 2 free throws and Sykes converted a foul shot to tie the score 38-38 with 2:07 left.
Bryan led the Lady Knights with 12 points and 5 rebounds. Sykes followed with 11 points and 3 rebounds. Lewis grabbed 11 rebounds to go with her 6 points and 2 steals. Allen and Chavez added 5 points each.
“Free throw shooting and a couple of missed lay-ups were the difference,” said Lady Knight Coach Brian McCleney. West Bladen made only 14 of their 31 free throw attempts, while Midway connected on 11 of their 18 foul shots.
Morgan Williams topped the Midway scoring with 14 points. Herring threw in 10 points, and Stonerock tallied 8 points.
Midway 7 7 15 12 — 41
West Bladen 11 9 9 10 — 39
Midway (41) – Ella Clark 3, Peyton Herring 10, Megan Jackson, Emma Lockamy, Lindsey Royal, Ariel Pegues 3, Kyleigh Stonerock 8, McKenzie Williams 2, Morgan Williams 14, Avery Strickland, Carmen Young 1.
West Bladen (39) – Faith Wren, Mallory Bryan 12, Natalee Sykes 11, Holland Davis, Kiera Lewis 6, Kali Allen 5, Alina Chavez 5, Zamariah Ward.
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