Dickey drops 19 as Raiders thump West Middle

A 20-0 third quarter did the damage as Moore County hammered West Middle 48-18 for its third straight win

9:37 p.m. Oct. 26, 2026

DUANE CROSS
MCO Publisher•Editor

West Middle was still hanging around at halftime Monday night. Then Moore County came out of the locker room and slammed the door.

The Raiders held West Middle scoreless in the third quarter, poured in 20 points of their own, and turned a nine-point halftime lead into a 48-18 rout. Moore County improved to 3-0 with its second straight victory by at least 29 points.

Max Dickey led the way with 19 points, including a 3-pointer, while Sawyer Boyce added 12. The two combined for 31 points, accounting for nearly two-thirds of Moore County's offense.

Dickey carries Raiders early

Dickey wasted little time getting started. The Moore County standout scored eight of the Raiders' 10 first-quarter points, knocking down three baskets and converting twice from the free-throw line. Boyce supplied the other basket as Moore County took a 10-7 lead.

Jordan Bunn scored five of the visitors' seven first-quarter points, including a 3-pointer. Aaron Pogue added a basket, keeping West within three points heading into the second.

Moore County found a little more breathing room before halftime. Dickey added four points in the second quarter, while Grayson Hill buried a 3-pointer. Kurt Smith and Laken Wade chipped in baskets, and Boyce made a free throw.

West Middle answered with six points of its own. Kingston Bunch connected from beyond the arc, and Bunn added a basket and a free throw to finish the half with eight points.

The Raiders led 22-13 at the break. They had controlled much of the first half, but West Middle was still close enough to make a game of it.

That changed in a hurry.

A 20-0 third quarter buries West

Moore County nearly matched its entire first-half output in the third quarter alone. West Middle didn't score a point.

Boyce took over offensively, scoring nine of his 12 points in the period. He knocked down three baskets and converted three free throws as the Raiders began pulling away.

Dickey wasn't far behind. He added seven points in the quarter, including a 3-pointer, pushing his total to 19 through three periods. Hill and Smith contributed two points apiece to complete the 20-point burst.

West Middle went into the fourth quarter staring at a 42-13 deficit. The Raiders had scored 20 unanswered points, and the game had gotten away from the visitors.

Eight Raiders get into the scoring column

Moore County spread the scoring around in the final period. Colton Alford, Lane Millaway, and Harrison Norman each scored a basket, accounting for all six of the Raiders' fourth-quarter points.

West Middle added five points. Pogue scored three, including a free throw, while Maddux McCallan made both of his attempts from the stripe.

Behind Dickey's 19 and Boyce's 12, Hill added five points, Smith scored four, and Alford, Millaway, Norman, and Wade chipped in two apiece.

Bunn led West Middle with eight points, followed by Pogue with five, Bunch with three, and McCallan with two.

The teams combined for four 3-pointers. Dickey and Hill each knocked down one for Moore County, while Bunn and Bunch connected from long range for West Middle.

Moore County finished 6-for-11 from the free-throw line. Boyce converted four of six attempts, while Dickey made two of three. Wade missed both of his attempts.

West Middle went 4-for-12 at the stripe. McCallan made both of his attempts, while Bunn and Pogue each added one free throw.

Moore County has now scored 130 points in three games while allowing 64. The Raiders have held consecutive opponents to fewer than 20 points, and Monday's 20-0 third quarter provided their most emphatic stretch of basketball yet.

Liberty visits Lynchburg Thursday, Oct. 29. Moore County will be looking for its fourth consecutive win – and a little more of what it found in Monday's third quarter.