Midway’s girls basketball team was back on their home court on Friday night, continuing Four County Conference play as they hosted West Bladen. After a tight game in the first quarter, the Lady Raiders used solid performances in the second and third quarters to put the Lady Knights — as well as the forfeiture of nine wins — in the rearview mirror and take home a 56-35 victory.

After a tie game at 13-13 at the end of the first quarter, Midway would outscore the Lady Knights 18-5 in the second quarter to take a 31-18 lead at the break.

The teams were fairly even throughout the second half, but Midway had played well enough to pull away and notch the 56-35 win.

JJ Sankey had a solid night for Midway with 17 points to complement her five steals and Leah Williams had 16 points, five assists and four steals. Also getting in the scoring column for Midway was Logan Baggett who had nine points, Hannah Lucas added seven, Alyssa Wrench had four, Kasey McLamb had two and Alexis Jackson added a free throw. Karizma Smith tallied a team-high eight rebounds.

After the game, head coach Allen McLamb said he was very pleased with his team’s effort.

“This was by far our best defensive effort all year,” he asserted. “Our team is showing strong character through adversity and is playing the best team ball I’ve seen all year. This is an outstanding team win and I’m extremely proud of all of the ladies.”

Friday night’s win came on the heels of the Lady Raiders being forced to forfeit nine wins from earlier in the season after it was discovered that a player was ineligible. The Midway Athletics Department said the incident was inadvertent and that steps were taken to resolve the issue, providing an official statement to the Sampson Independent.

“The Midway High School Athletic department discovered and self-reported an ineligible player on the girl’s basketball team on Jan. 5. As a result, Midway High School has satisfied all requirements of due penalties in accordance to NCHSAA rules. The ineligible player was found in error and the school regrets the findings, but looks forward to finishing the season with a strong, positive, united MHS team in our continued efforts of excellence,” the statement read.

The player in question will satisfy eligibility requirements at the end of the semester and intends to return to the court by the end of the season.

Midway will be back in action on Friday when they host East Bladen.

Midway’s J.J. Sankey goes up for a layup in a game this season. Sankey led her team on Friday night with 17 points.
https://www.clintonnc.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_JJ-Sankey-1.jpgMidway’s J.J. Sankey goes up for a layup in a game this season. Sankey led her team on Friday night with 17 points. Daron Barefoot | Sampson Independent
Coach praises team’s play amid nine-game forfeit

By Daron Barefoot

Sports Editor

Reach Daron Barefoot at [email protected].