After 2,260 hours of video gaming, 75lbs of devoured Takis and 1,200 ounces of Baja Blasts guzzled, the MHS basketball teams returned to action Thursday night at Oakdale. It has been 12 days since the Midway basketball team has played and it was obvious by how the teams started tonight. However both teams improved greatly as the game progressed with the Lady Wave winning 44-36 and the Midway boys losing a tight one in overtime, 69-72.
The Lady Wave got off to a slow start, managing just 5 points in the opening quarter. Oakdale wasn’t exactly putting on an offensive clinic either, scoring just 9 points in the opening but it was enough to take the lead. But that was the last quarter Oakdale would lead. Things picked up for the Lady Wave in the second quarter. Kali Kile knocked down a pair of 3s, Kyleigh Cawood made several trips to the foul line and freshman Tatum Collier chipped in 3 to give the Lady Wave a 19-17 edge at the half.
In the second half, Abbie Parks scored 13 of her game high 16 points to lead the Midway offense. But Oakdale did not go away easily. The Lady Eagles hung around and pulled within 2 points in the 4th quarter but The Kid, Kyleigh Cawood, managed to weave her way through the Oakdale defense for a couple layups to help seal the Lady Wave victory.
Parks led the scoring with 16, followed by Cawood with 15 and Kile 6.
In the boys’ game, Midway got off to as worst as a start as you can. Unable to get on the scoreboard, the Waves found themselves down 0-15 in just a few minutes after tip-off. Just like the Lady Waves, the boys managed only 5 points in the 1st quarter and trailed 5-18. But the Waves persevered and started chipping away at the deficit. Dalton Cowell led the resurgence, scoring 9 points in the quarter and hauling in several rebounds to give life back to the team. Peyton Steele hit a corner 3 pointer and drew a foul for a 4-point play. Brennan Reed hit for 6 points in the quarter and just like that…Midway headed to the locker-room to a standing ovation from the crowd only down by 1-point, 24-25.
Midway and Oakdale would both turn up the offensive production in the 3rd quarter. Unable to get a bucket in the first half, Midway’s Cooper Queener was simply enfuego from behind the arc to open the 3rd quarter. Queener hit 5 3’s in a row to put Midway in the lead. However, Oakdale would knock down some deep shots of their own and held a 51-47 lead heading into the 4th quarter. Queener’s hot shooting continued into the fourth as he hit 2 more deep shots. Steele connected on another 3 and senior Evan Lemons chipped in several from the paint to keep the game close. With just 5 seconds remaining in the game, Midway had the ball trailing by two. That’s when Reed took a handoff and drove the lane, connecting on a floater at the buzzer to send the game into overtime, 62-62.
In overtime, Midway played well but was unable to get needed baskets in the closing minute. Oakdale escaped with a 72-69 win.
Queener led the scoring with 25, hitting 8 of 10 in the second half from 3-point land. Dalton Cowell had a solid, all-around game with 18 points and 8 rebounds. Reed also had a great game on both ends of the court. The junior had 13 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists. Easy E, Evan Lemons, had 6 points and a game high 10 rebounds.
Queener tied two records on the night. He tied the Midway school record for made 3-pointers in a game. He joins Preston Woody who hit for 8 in 1988. He also tied the record for most 3’s made in Oakdale’s gym. He joins Oakdale’s Sydney Gregory for this record.
Midway will host Monterey on Friday, January 26th. The game will be held at Midway Middle School.