Spring Creek’s Brennan Chambers maintains possession despite getting double-teamed by two Midway defenders during fourth-quarter play Wednesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Midway junior Anthony Graham (24) defends a shot by Spring Creek’s Kam McDaniel while the Gators’ Nathan Jackson looks on during third-quarter action Wednesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Spring Creek’s Jackson Rose, left, reaches in and knocks the ball away from Midway’s Travis Gist (2) during their game in ‘The Swamp’. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Midway junior Wyatt Herring (14) goes in for the layup after driving past Spring Creek’s Jackson Rose (3) and Nathan Jackson to the basket Wednesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Midway senior Tripp Westbrook (1) drives to the basket against Spring Creek’s Kam McDaniel during first-quarter action Wednesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
SEVEN SPRINGS — Will one shot fall, please?Jackson Rose probably thought that to himself Wednesday evening — until late in the third quarter.
The sophomore guard drained three consecutive 3-pointers during an 15-3 run that eventually propelled Spring Creek past Midway, 49-44, during their non-conference battle in “The Swamp.”
Rose notched 13 points for the Gators, who halted a two-game skid.
“That was very big,” SC head coach Tray Harris said. “He was a little unfocused in the first half … had very little confidence in his shot. I just told him to relax … he got in a good rhythm and knocked down some threes.”
Midway led 27-19 with 4:24 left in the third period.
Senior forward Justin Raiford started the offensive surge with a short runner in the lane. Rose followed with his three straight trifectas, the last coming off a steal and assist from Kam McDaniel.
Brennan Chambers’ offensive putback and Raiford’s backdoor bucket off Nathan Jackson’s assist capped the run.
“It was focus, had to get our ‘want to’ [mentality] to win the basketball game,” Harris said.
That attitude carried over into a back-and-forth final period.
McDaniel buried a 3-pointer off Rose’s assist to make it 36-31.
Midway crashed the offensive boards and responded with a 7-2 run.
Ke’mari McNeil rebounded his own miss on the back end of a two-shot foul and delivered a pass to freshman Tanner Williams. Williams kissed a shot off the glass, which knotted the contest at 38-38.
Spring Creek answered back.
Jackson, McDaniel, Chambers and Raiford combined for seven straight points. Raiford’s 3-pointer off a Midway turnover gave the Gators a solid working margin, 45-38, with about 90 seconds to play.
The Raiders closed to within 45-40.
Jackson’s basket in transition off Raiford’s assist and Chambers’ two free throws all but sealed the outcome with 20 seconds to go.
“[The rally] was normally what we do in the second half,” Harris said. “[We] take a breather, relax, get our minds back together and focus on team basketball. I was pleased with our ability not to give up.
“We didn’t put our heads down. We locked in and turned it up on defense, got active and finished out the ballgame.”
Chambers led all scorers with 14 points. Jackson tallied nine, followed by Raiford with seven and McDaniel with six.
The Gators (3-2 overall) remained unbeaten in three home outings this season. Their home game today against Hobbton has been postponed, according to athletics director Troy Smothers.
Senior Tripp Westbrook collected 13 points for Midway, which exited 3-2. Williams scored 12 points. Wyatt Herring and Anthony Graham provided six points apiece.
