Under the bright lights of the old Sampson Middle School gym, now Sunset Avenue Elementary’s court, the middle school Dark Horses and Raiders renewed a familiar rivalry. Before the ball ever tipped, the night carried extra meaning. The facility’s court was officially dedicated to longtime coach Charles Strickland, a figure whose influence on Sampson County basketball stretches across decades. As part of the tribute, Sampson Middle’s boys broke out their vintage Rams uniforms, a nod to the era when Strickland’s program forged memories within those same walls.
Once play began, the girls game set the tone early with a defensive battle full of effort and hustle, while the boys matchup showcased a Sampson Middle team that ignited quickly and never let up. In the end, Midway’s girls claimed a convincing 45-2 win, while the Sampson boys rolled to a strong 56-30 victory.
Girls
From the opening tip, both teams showed early-season jitters. Passing lanes were tight, defensive pressure was heavy, and both squads struggled to convert opportunities. For Midway, however, one weapon steadily shifted momentum: the interior presence of their center, Reagan Jackson.
Jackson was a force in the paint all night, blocking shots, denying second-chance looks, and finishing tough baskets around the rim. Her dominance altered Sampson’s offensive rhythm and gave the Lady Raiders confidence whenever they needed a settling possession.
Despite the early struggles, Sampson Middle flashed grit and determination. Tatum McNair for SMS stayed aggressively engaged in the passing lanes, picking off multiple steals and giving the Dark Horses chances to push in transition. But not enough shots found the bottom of the net, and Midway used their size and rebounding edge to take an 11-4 lead after the opening quarter.
Sampson scored first in the second quarter, but Midway responded with back-to-back baskets from Rilynn Gomez and Jackson, again, using her height to take control. Sampson’s Presleigh Faircloth broke up the run with a key finish, but the Dark Horses continued to struggle capitalizing off Raider turnovers. By the half, Midway held a 21-10 advantage.
The third quarter became the turning point. Sampson seemed to have a lid on the rim, going scoreless for nearly five minutes while Midway expanded the lead to 25-12. A timeout at the 51-second mark came with the Raiders up 31-12, and a buzzer-beating mid-range jumper by Midway’s Cate Williams stretched it even further to 33-12 heading into the fourth.
Midway continued to push. Sterlyn Tyndall delivered a beautiful dime to Jackson, followed by a turnover-induced score that ballooned the lead to 38-14. With four minutes to go, Midway coach Allen McLamb subbed in reserves, but Sampson’s press sparked a late surge. Paris Brown earned the Dark Horses’ first fourth-quarter points, and Sampson forced multiple turnovers that turned into fastbreak points and free throws. McNair capped the rally with back-to-back field goals, finishing off an impressive personal stretch.
Despite the late push, Midway’s execution and rebounding presence secured the victory.
Sampson Middle girls coach Roscoe McNair saw positives in the defeat, especially from younger players beginning to find their footing.
“I’m starting to see a lot of the young girls who have not played very often build confidence,” McNair said. “They’re starting to buy into what we’re trying to teach them. We want everyone to contribute, and everyone got playing time because they deserve to be here.”
He praised their effort despite the score.
“That fight and grit shows they have a lot of heart,” he said. “They’re learning a new system with only two weeks to work on it. By the end of the season, this conversation will be different.”
McLamb credited his team’s identity.
“We controlled the boards, we played aggressive, scrappy defense, and we used our legs,” McLamb said. “Those things win games.”
He emphasized ball movement as a key to their fast break success.
“We don’t want to dribble more than we have to. Pass fast, pass early,” he said. “When we dribbled too much, that’s when we got in trouble. When we moved the ball without putting it on the floor, we were very successful.”
Williams and Jackson each finished with double-doubles, giving Midway a dominant edge inside.
“I think both had 11 boards and 12 points each,” McLamb said. “That’s big for us. Hard to contain size and effort like that.”
McLamb also praised his bench.
“We are truly about nine deep, and after that we have young players who are growing,” he said. “But even they are buying in. That is what makes us dangerous.”
Boys
The boys matchup opened with a burst of offense from Sampson Middle, driven by the explosive backcourt play of Juelz Henry. Wearing the throwback Rams uniforms, Henry and his teammates came out energized and connected, jumping to a 15-6 lead through quick breaks and defensive pressure.
Midway played hard-nosed defense but struggled to capitalize on their own opportunities. After a well-executed inbound play cut the deficit to ten, the Dark Horses responded with back-to-back transition buckets off Raider turnovers. Hampton Bass went to work in the paint, cleaning up offensive boards and scoring through contact.
Midway’s Ty’kevon Cash delivered a highlight moment by picking off a pass, finishing through a hard foul, and converting the and-one. But Sampson continued dictating the pace. Bass carried the scoring load until taking a short breather at the two-minute mark, and Henry closed the half strong with two made free throws and continued aggressive drives. Sampson led 31-16 at halftime.
Midway opened the second half with a three by Ja’siyen Cash, assisted by his brother Ty’kevon. They scored again to trim the lead to ten. But Jayden Owens answered with a powerful drive and finish through contact. Henry followed with a baseline attack and then another four-point personal run as Sampson’s lead stretched to 41-23.
Midway fought back with a bucket from Elijah Blake, but the turnovers from their reserves allowed Sampson to balloon the lead to 54-25. Both teams emptied their benches in closing minutes, and Sampson closed out a dominant 56-30 win.
Sampson Middle boys coach James Farrior keeps a simple acronym for his program: EAT.
“Effort, attitude, and toughness,” Farrior said. “That is what we base our program on. These kids play hard. They want it.”
He praised Henry, Bass, and Owens for leading the way.
“This group wants it, man. That’s hard to find in this new generation,” Farrior said. “Their chemistry is strong. At practice, it’s all positivity. No negativity. We focus on what stays right.”
Farrior said the team believes in its chances this season but will stay grounded.
“I love our chances for a title, but we go one game at a time,” he said. “It is always bigger than basketball. As long as we play hard, we can live with the scoreboard.”
Between the court dedication to Coach Charles Strickland, the nod to history with Sampson’s Rams uniforms, and the lively crowd packed into the old gym, Tuesday night blended nostalgia, community pride, and the next generation of Sampson County basketball.
Midway’s girls showcased discipline and interior dominance. Sampson Middle’s boys displayed fast-paced offense and relentless defense. Both programs walked away with valuable early-season lessons.