1A Raiderettes get wins over 3A Franklin County and 4A Lincoln County

Raiderette Bella Tucker (left) fights for an inside shot on Friday against Franklin County. She scored five against the Lady Rebels and another seven against the Lady Falcons on Saturday. Moore County’s Ally Sharpe (right) looks for the perimeter shot against the Lady Rebels. She scored 18 on Friday and another 14 on Saturday including five three-point shots across two games. | *Photos Courtesy of Jeff Reed*

By Tabitha Evans Moore | Editor & Publisher

Raiderettes Head Coach Chad Spencer has made it no secret that he’s likes scheduling larger nearby schools to challenge and stretch his Raiderettes. Though they don’t always get the win, they always get valuable experience and that’s what counts most heading down the stretch and into the postseason.

But this weekend, the Raiderettes beat the Class 3A, District 12, Region 6’s Franklin County Lady Rebels 43-37 on Friday and Class 4A, Region 3, District 6’s Lincoln County Lady Falcons on Saturday by a final of 56-41.

Raiderettes mount second half comeback

The Lady Rebels jumped out early in the first period against Moore County putting up 14 points while holding Moore County to just eight. Franklin County’s Grasen Baggett led in the first period with half of their 14 points. Only two Raiderettes managed to put up points — Emma Dye scored six and Abbie Bateman added two more. Moore County trailed Franklin County by six at the end of the first period.

But Moore County found their footing in the second period and outscored the Lady Rebels nine to four— thanks in no small part to Ally Sharpe, who scored the games first trey on the Moore County side and two more to lead with seven points. Bella Tucker added the other two. The Raiderettes went into the halftime locker room trailing by one.

The two teams came out of the locker room determined to gain the lead. Moore County scored eight, which was just enough to tie the game, while holding the Lady Rebels to seven points. Alexus Hornaday came off the bench to add four and Dye added the other four.

As they often do, the Raiderettes saved their best efforts for the fourth period. They put up 18 while holding the Lady Rebels to 12. Seven of Moore County’s final points came from the line. Sharpe led with a trey and two baskets while Dye was a nearly perfect five of six from the line. Bella Tucker added five and Ellie Carter swished one from the line.

At the final buzzer, Moore County managed a six-point win, 43-37.

Raiderette power houses Ally Sharpe (18 points) and Emma Dye (15 points) combined for 33 of the Raiderette’s 43 points. Bella Tucker added seven and Abbie Bateman contributed a basket. Ellie Carter added one from the line.

Moore County jumps out early on Lady Falcons

The following night against Lincoln County, the Raiderettes came out swinging, built an early 17-point lead and never looked back. They outscored the Lady Falcons 14 to eight in the first period thanks to a pair of treys each from Ally Sharpe and Emma Dye to set the tone plus a pair from the line by Bella Tucker.

Moore County continued to dominate in the second period by outscoring the Lady Falcons by 11. Sharpe, Dye, and Ellie Carter all swished perimeter shots. Emmeree Greenway came off the bench and added two baskets, and Tucker added one more from the line. At the end of the second, Moore County led 31-14.

Lincoln County made its best efforts at a second half comeback — scoring two more that the Raiderrettes in the third period and matching them shot-for-shot in the fourth, but it wasn’t enough. At the final buzzer, Moore County walked away with a 56-41 win.

Three Raiderettes managed double-digit points. Emma Dye scored 17, including three treys. Ally Sharpe added 14 more, including three treys, and Ellie Carter managed 12 more including two from the perimeter. In total, Moore County scored 24 from the three-point line.

Bella Tucker added seven and Emmeree Greenway came off the bench for four points. Harley Hart added a pair of fourth period free throws.

The Raiderettes will return to District 9A action with a rematch at Richland on Tuesday. The Lady Raiders bested Moore County at home on January 16 by a final of 52-47. Moore County will be looking to exact a little revenge, hand Richland their first district loss of the season, and move up in the District 9A standings. •

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