On Monday night the Midway Green Wave traveled to Coalfield for a Non-District matchup with the Coalfield Yellow Jackets. Although the games have no effect on the District playoffs, that didn’t seem to matter to either team and by the time the evening was over those in attendence had seen two of the best games played so far this season.
The Ladies would lead off the evening with Lydia Byrd, Kadera Jackson, AJ Armes, McKinlee West and Aleyis Morrison coming out for the Lady Yellow Jackets to face the Lady Waves Kali Kila, Kyleigh Cawood, Abbie Parks, Kristen Ruffner and Sierra Cowell.
The Lady Jackets slipped right into their offensive rhythm with Kadera Jackson leading the way. The Jackets opened a 6-0 run before Ruffner responded with a 3 pointer for the Wave. She was joined by Cowell and Cawood and at the 3 minute mark the game was knotted at 9-9. The scoring was coming in waves as Miday responed with 2 three point buckets from Ruffner and the quarter ended 19-15 Green Wave.
The 2nd quarter was a run shoot run affair with the two teams scoring 14 buckets and 4 free throws, included with the buckets were 4 three pointers. The Yellow Jackets top guns would be Jackson and Morrison. The Lady Wave spread the action among 7 different players with Addie Armos doing the most damage. The half ended with the Wave still on top 36-32.
The 3rd was streakie with the Lady Wave dominating the first 4 minutes and the Lady Jackets finishing out the quarter. Cawood would lead the Lady Wave, scoring 6 of the first 7 points of the quarter as Midway opened a 42-34 margin at the 3:30 mark.
Jackson then lead the Lady Jacket’s comeback with 11 points, tying the score at 43 all at the 1 minute mark. A bucket by Sierra Cowell and a free throw by Mallorie Hawn would close out the quarter with Midway up 45-44.
Both teams were strong to open the 4th and again it was Jackson who was able to keep it close with her bucket and free throw knotting it at 50-50 with 2 minutes to play. Aleyis Morrion’s bucket then put the Lady Jackets back in front for good. Despite two buckets from Cawood the Lady Jackets hung on for the victory 57-54.
Kadera Jackson had an outstanding evening with 33 points for the Lady Jackets, followed by Aleyis Morrison 12, McKinlee West 9, AJ Armes 2 and Mallorie Hawn 1.
The Lady Waves were lead by Kyleigh Cawood with 19, Kristine Ruffner 16, Sierra Cowell and Addie Armes with 6 each, Lynic Prinzi 5 and Kali Kila 2.
The boys game figured to be an evenly matched shoot out and it was exactly that through two and a half quarters, at that point the Jackets opened a lead which they did not relinquish. The home team would open with Rommel Canton, Brayden Burgess, Tucker West, Zack Armstrong and Zackery Hamby. The Green Wave sent out Ethan Parks, Evan Lemons, Brennan Reed, Dalton Cowell and Tyler Bently.
The Jackets opened with 4 of the 5 starters finding their range early. The Wave kept things close with two 3 pointers from Reed and Peyton Steele and the 1st ended 11-10 Jackets.
The teams traded buckets during the 2nd quarter with Eathan Parks leading the attack but the Jackets were able to maintain a slim 24-21 lead going to the locker room.
Parks would again lead the Wave offense as the 3rd opened and the Wave would take the lead for the first time on a Parks 3 pointer at the 5:33 mark. The score was tied again on a 3 pointer from the Jackets Waylon Burgess at the 3:30 mark. Two buckets from the Jacket’s Rommel Canton and the Jackets went up 37-33 with 2 to play in the quarter. Blake Hudson then contributed two three point plays and despite a 3 pointer from the Waves’ Reed, the quarter ended 45-37 Coalfield.
The Jackets came out gunning in the 4th and quickly opened a 52-41 lead. Despite the Green Waves best efforts, the Yellow Jackets offense continued to roll and the contest ended with the Yellow Jackets on top 68-51.
Statistically the Jackets would see virtually everyone in uniform hit the boards lead by Tucker West and Brayden Burgess with 15 each, Rommel Canton 8, Blake Hudson 12, Zackery Hamby and Waylon Burgess 3 each, Brayden Willard, Jordon Letner and Bruce Brown 2 each. The Green Wave was lead by Ethan Parks 19, Brennan Reed 12, Payton Steele and Tyler Bently 5 each, Dalton Cowell,Evan Lemons and Tucker Proffitt 2 each and Coleman Ellison with a single point.
The Green Wave chance for revenge will be swift as these two teams will meet again Thursday the 19th in Midway. Ladies tip off at 6:30.
