Championship Wednesday delivered.
Inside Lakewood’s gym, the Midway Raiders captured the girls title, while the Sampson Middle Dark Horses finished an undefeated season with the boys championship.
The runners-up, the Sampson girls and Midway boys, battled to the final horn and left with plenty to build on.
Girls
Midway controlled the first half early, building a 17-8 lead behind strong interior play and fast break execution.
The Lady Raiders struck first in the third when Emery Williams finished in transition. Paris Brown answered with a corner three to trim the score to 19-10, but Midway maintained control.
Preslie Williams broke a scoring drought with a layup, and Cate Williams converted inside after the Raiders broke Sampson’s full-court trap. Reagan Jackson and Williams continued to connect, stretching the lead to 26-12.
Sampson showed fight in the fourth. Dania Aycock opened the quarter with a layup. Hollis Thomas followed with a steal and a free throw to make it 26-17. Free throws by Paris Brown later cut the deficit to seven with under three minutes left.
Rebounding proved decisive. With just over two minutes remaining, Jackson grabbed an offensive board and converted a putback to extend the lead to 29-20. Midway slowed the tempo and sealed a 31-22 victory.
Throughout the second half, the Raiders implemented a box-and-one to limit Tatum McNair’s impact.
Afterward, Midway head coach Allen McLamb credited toughness.
“Feels good,” McLamb said. “They bought into the system. We had bumps and bruises and sickness all year, but we kept pushing.”
He pointed to physicality and rebounding.
“We controlled the boards. We moved the ball well. That was the difference.”
McLamb also emphasized the younger players watching from the bench.
“They were engaged. That helps set the tone for next year.”
On the other side, Sampson coach Roscoe McNair stood firm in calling the season a success.
“I still feel the same,” McNair said. “You can’t hang it on one game. We came out flat, but our girls fought until the end.”
He praised Midway’s effort and highlighted his team’s resilience.
“They gave me 110 percent. We’ll show this film next year if they forget how close we were.”
His message to the Lady Dark Horses was simple.
“Stay tough. Stay smart. Play your game. Coach loves you.”
Boys
Sampson entered the game without leading scorer Juelz Henry, but the approach did not change.
“It’s next man up,” head coach James Farrior said. “He’s family, but we keep moving.”
The Dark Horses controlled the paint early, carrying a 22-13 lead into halftime behind their size and physical play.
A corner three by Sampson’s Gibson Hill extended the advantage to 29-17 in the third. Midway answered with a putback from Zac Cannady, but Sampson still entered the fourth ahead 31-19.
Midway’s Tanner Register knocked down a three to spark a push, yet the Dark Horses maintained composure. Late threes stretched the margin to 43-31 with under a minute remaining, securing the championship.
For Farrior, the moment represented completion.
“It’s a breath of fresh air to complete your goal,” he said. “These boys stayed diligent.”
With several young players gaining experience, he sees promise ahead.
“The ceiling is high. We played our young guys all year. They’re ready.”
Midway head coach Josh Bullard praised his team despite the runner-up finish.
“I was proud of the improvement,” Bullard said. “We wish our eighth-graders the best. We’ve got a good nucleus coming back.”
Midway’s girls left Lakewood with the trophy. Sampson’s boys completed their unbeaten run.
The Sampson girls and Midway boys leave as runners-up, but both programs showed growth that will carry forward.