DUBLIN — After seeing a nine-point lead disappear late in the game, visiting Midway closed things out with a 7-2 burst to capture a 50-45 Four County Conference win against West Bladen.
The loss drops the Lady Knights to 11-12 overall and 7-6 in the conference.
West Bladen jumped out to an early 6-3 lead behind two baskets by Jerena Purdie, but the Lady Raiders answered with an 8-3 spurt to close out the first quarter with an 11-9 edge.
The Lady Knights opened the second stanza with a 6-0 run, but Midway responded with a 16-5 run that gave the visitors a 27-20 lead. But West Bladen pulled to within 29-25 with a 5-2 spurt to close out the first half. The Lady Knights, however, were plagued by 15 turnovers in the half.
The Lady Raiders used an 11-6 edge through the third quarter to extend the lead to 40-31 before West Bladen began its rally.
The Lady Knights went on an 11-3 run to open the fourth quarter and were within 43-42 with just under 3 minutes to play. Midway got a pair of baskets to push the lead to 47-42, but Akira Grimes drained a three-pointer for the West Bladen to cut the deficit to 47-45 with only a handful of seconds left on the clock.
The Lady Raiders sealed the win with a three-point play to end the game.
“The girls played very well, other than the turnovers,” said West Bladen coach Rick Rhoda. “We did a good job working the high and low post (but) we took a few ill-advised shots and made a few ill-advised passes.
“Hopefully those issues will be corrected …” he added.
Purdie led West Bladen with 15 points and pulled down seven rebounds, while Grimes added 10 points and also grabbed seven boards. Laikyn Pait scored seven points and had nine rebounds for the lady Knights, while Logan Autry also scored seven points.
W. Curt Vincent can be reached by calling 910-862-4163.