Midway’s Dream Run Ends with 75-61 Loss to Gibson County

By Terry Futrell/Morgan County Today

An old Everly Brothers song said, “All I have to do is dream.” The Midway Lady Waves learned tonight that in real life we don’t always get what we dream for. It would be easy to focus on the 75-61 loss to Gibson County in the Blue Cross Basketball Championship semifinals and be overcome by disappointment. But, sometimes broken dreams result in blessings that we did not anticipate. Such was the case as the Midway Lady Waves pursued their dream of a state basketball championship.

The Gibson County and Midway teams mirrored each other in so many ways. The game stats show two teams that were very evenly matched, perhaps more so than any two teams that have faced each other in this tournament. Both teams shot 21 field goals, with Midway having a 6-4 edge in 3-point baskets. From the field, Midway outscored Gibson County 48-46. Rebounds were close (27-22), steals were close (7-5), turnovers were close (14-12), and each team had eight assists.

A primary differentiator in the game was in the number of fouls assessed and free throws shot and made by the two teams. Gibson County was penalized with 15 personal fouls, Midway was assessed with 26 personal fouls. Gibson County shot 29 of 35 free throws, while Midway shot 13 of 16.

While Midway committed several fouls near the end of the game to gain possession of the ball, that does not account for all the difference. It appeared that Gibson County, as a team, was just a bit faster than Midway. As a result, many of Midway’s fouls occurred trying to react when Gibson County was in the act of shooting, hence the significant difference in free throws attempted and made.

It was a game in which the lead changed 17 times, and which was tied five times. Both teams were in contention until the fourth quarter. As Midway fans have witnessed so many times in recent games, these young ladies refused to give up and played with heart until the bitter end.

Caitlyn Ross led Midway in scoring with 22 points. Ross hit 7-12 field goals and 6-6 free throws. Rebecca Lemasters scored 11 points; she shot 4-7 from the field, including 3-6 from 3-point range. Paige Bacon and Emily Cawood scored 10 points each. Bacon shot 3-8 from the field and 4-4 from the free throw line. Cawood shot 4-6 from the field and 2-4 free throws. Midway hit 46% of their field goals and 81% of their free throws.

K. J. White led Gibson County with 24 points. White hit 6-10 field goal attempts and 12-13 free throws. Hannah Ball added 12 points, 3-7 from the field and 6-6 from the free throw line. Kaci Sweatt tacked on 10 points for Gibson County, 3-5 field goals and 3-4 free throws. For the game, Gibson County connected on 50% of their field goals and 81% of their free throws.

So, in the heartbreak of defeat, where are those unanticipated blessings? One of the greatest things to come out of this experience is the way the entire Midway community was galvanized in support of the team. The resurgence in “South of the River Pride” was extraordinary and the benefit to the community is immeasurable. As for the young Lady Waves, they learned life skills, such as playing as a team while being individually responsible and accountable for their own effort. Considering these results, it seems that the dream of the Lady Waves has not ended but is only beginning.