Midway’s varsity Raiders found a way to put two halves together Tuesday night as they fought off Trask to win the first game of the conference season. Final score 56-54.

“It was a really close game from beginning to end,” said assistant coach Matthew Creech, Echoing remarks often made by head coach Leonard Henry, Creech said the team found the intensity they had in the first and kept it going in the second half.

“Coach Henry told the guys when they got down to keep pushing, to keep believing in themselves, and that’s exactly what they did, and we were able to come away with the W because of it,” Creech stressed.

Playing in front of a supportive home team, Trask pushed ahead in the first quarter 16-11 and maintained that lead into the half, where they lead 26-22.

But Midway never game up, trading baskets with the home team for much of the third quarter and only trailing Trask by 1 point, 38-37, at the close of the period.

“Trask is a quality team and there crowd was really in it,” Creech said. “I have to hand it to our guys, we fought through all that to get a really good win for us.”

Raider Heath Smith came off the bench to give Midway huge minutes and 14 points, leading the way for his team.

Creech called Smith a true leader on the court Tuesday night. “He showed great leadership out there. We’re really proud of the way he stepped up.”

In addition to Smith, other Raiders who scored included Raheem Thomas with 11 points; Justin Thompson, 9; Michael Hall, 6; Tyler Pope, 5; Andre Sankey, 5; Jordan Thompson, 4 and Jordan Killett, 2.

The win moves Midway’s varsity record to 5-5 overall and 1-0 in conference play.

They play their last game before the Christmas break Thursday at home against Wallace-Rose Hill.