Last week, Midway hosted our longtime foes, Greenback, for a big district match-up. Additionally, the Midway Hall of Fame inducted new members.
Girls Game
Entering the game against Greenback the Lady Waves were on a 2-game district win streak, including a win over Grace, to help tighten the race for next month’s district playoffs. The Lady Cherokees are #2 in the district and their previous meeting at Greenback was one for the memory book as it went into double-overtime with the Lady Waves losing, along with many reports of questionable home-clock management.
Jumping forward to last Friday night, the Lady Waves had hopes of reeling off another district win to keep the streak alive. The game remained tight in the opening period with Greenback having a 10-7 edge. Several buckets by senior Hali Morris kept Midway’s offense in the game, but Greenback would expand their lead going into the break, 23-16.
The Lady ‘Kees quickly jumped out on the Lady Waves to open the half but Midway gathered themselves, thanks largely again by the offense of Morris, to keep the game close entering the 4th and final stanza.
Turnovers, passing, and the overall inability to get the ball inside proved costly down the stretch and Greenback would run away with it in the 4th, winning 51-38.
The loss drops the Lady Waves to 7-11 (3-5) and in 5th place in the district.
Hall of Fame Ceremony
Between the girls & boys game, the Midway Hall of Fame inducted their newest members: members of the school’s first softball team (1992) and the legendary Mrs. Allie Howard, better known to all of us as Mrs. Allie. You can find photos and video clips of the ceremony under the SORSN galleries.
Boys Game
In the last meeting, the Midway Greenwaves defeated the Cherokees by 8. The ‘Kees were hoping to return the favor and beat the Waves on their home turf and knock off the top team in the district. They would fail in classic rivalry fashion.
The game started off rough for the Waves. Greenback jumped out early and had the opening momentum, leading 15-7 at the end of one. The game would have been a complete runaway in the opening period had it not been for two unlikely heroes. Senior 6th man Dusty Hope and sophomore Christian Moore kept the Waves in the game with hustle and solid play on both sides of the ball. Moore replaced Hope in the starting lineup for this game but it proved to be the combination of the two of them that helped Midway get the win.
The rest of the squad caught the energy and began chipping away at the lead. Thomas Viar, Caleb Ruffner and Adam Houser would get involved and the Waves charged ahead to take a 32-23 lead into the half.
Greenback would hang around in the second half until a complete loss of composure resulted in a technical, more technicals, and finally ejections. 
Midway would pull away in the 4th for a 58-43 victory and stay in first place in the district.
You can see photos and video from the game under the SORSN galleries.
Editor’s Note
While it was great to get a win over Greenback, the biggest and best part of the night wasn’t the game with our archenemies or the latest Hall of Fame inductions; it was being within an arm’s reach of two of best teachers to stand in a classroom at Midway Elementary and without question, two of my all-time favorite teachers. Mr. Morris and Mrs. Lingerfelt were in attendance on this night and having them in the bleachers together brought smiles to many former students such as myself.