Once a bustling industrial highway in the 1890s, Coal Hill Road is now a twisty, curvy path frequented by A and AA student-athletes, their coaches, and parents, all heading to face the formidable Yellow Jackets of Coalfield. Last night, the Midway GreenWave made the trek up the mountain, ready for action.
Girls Game: A Tough Battle
The Lady Wave put up a valiant fight but ultimately fell short, suffering a 42-59 loss. Coalfield, one of the top teams in the state, showcased their talent, led by some impressive freshmen and sophomores who promise to keep them at the top for years to come.
The Lady Wave found themselves trailing early, with the Lady Jackets jumping to a 19-10 lead after the first quarter. Midway’s defense tightened in the second quarter, and Tatum Collier got hot, scoring 6 points to help close the gap. With just over a minute remaining in the half, the Lady Wave cut the deficit to just 2 points, but that was as close as they would get. They trailed 22-27 at halftime.
The second half belonged to Coalfield, who secured a 59-43 victory. Midway struggled from behind the arc, hitting a season-low one three-pointer. Kyleigh Cawood led the scoring for Midway with 12 points, the only Lady Wave in double digits. Addie Armes added 9 points, Abbie Parks 8, and Tatum Collier finished with 6 points.
Score by Quarters:
| 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | F | |
| Lady Wave | 10 | 22 | 35 | 42 |
| Coalfield | 19 | 27 | 42 | 59 |
Boys Game: A Rollercoaster Ride
After a nearly 40-point victory over Coalfield in December, the GreenWave might have expected an easy win. Instead, they were met with a fierce swarm of Yellow Jackets. Coalfield jumped out to an early lead, hitting every shot while Midway struggled. Despite this, Midway managed to lead 22-18 at the end of the first quarter.
The GreenWave built on their lead in the second quarter, with Brady Arndts knocking down a pair of threes, joined by Peyton Steele and Dalton Cowell from beyond the arc. Cooper Queener also hit a pair of first-half threes, including a buzzer-beater, giving Midway a 43-33 lead at halftime.
Arndts continued his hot shooting in the third quarter, hitting two more from deep. Brennan Reed helped lead the Midway surge, scoring 8 points in the third and 11 in the fourth through fast breaks and free throws. Midway’s balanced scoring helped them pull away in the fourth quarter, cruising to an 82-65 win.
Reed led the scoring with 23 points, followed by Dalton Cowell with 20. Arndts added 16, and Queener had 10. Wyatt McClure returned to the lineup after missing the game against Harriman with an injury, contributing 8 points and 3 blocks.
Score by Quarters:
| 1Q | 2Q | 3Q | F | |
| Midway | 22 | 43 | 63 | 82 |
| Coalfield | 18 | 33 | 54 | 65 |
Next Up: Rockwood Tigers
Midway will be back in action tonight as they welcome the Rockwood Tigers to Ruff Arena. Get ready for another thrilling night of basketball!