LYNCHBURG, Tenn. — They stole balls. They harassed dribblers. They fought for rebounds. In the end, a smothering Moore County Raiderettes defense held the Santa Fe Wildcats to single-digit scoring for three periods and no baskets in the fourth to manage a 54-11 win and advance to the next round in the Region 5A Tournament.

Raiderettes pull away in the first period

Olivia Richards got a steal on Santa Fe’s first offensive possess. She hit a fast break and dished it to Charlotte Ray under the boards. Ray’s two points were the first of the game. The duo executed the exact same on the second Wildcat offensive possession to get up 4-0. Santa Fe’s Elise Atkinson answered then Ray hit a trey to make it 7-2.

Moore County then went on a six point run with points by Chloe Brazier and Ellie Graham to pad the lead by eight. Santa Fe’s Aniston Slaughter hit a trey around the two minute mark to make it 10-5. It would be the last Wildcat points of the period. Brazier and Graham then combined for another six point run to give Moore County a 16-5 lead at the end of the first.

Olivia Richards also scored the first points of the second on the Raiderettes first possession. Moore County then scored 14 unanswered with points by Maecy Fletcher, Richards, Katy Fletcher, and Breanna Burks to make it 30-5. Santa Fe’s Slaughter made their only basket of the second period with a little over a minute to play. Katy Fletcher answered with a trey. The Raiderettes went into the locker room ahead, 36-7.

After the break, Olivia Richards snagged a steal on the first Santa Fe possession and dished it again to Charlotte Ray, who made the layup for two points. Santa Fe put up just four points — a trey and a free throw in the third period. At the end of the third eight minutes, the Raiderettes led 49-11.

Coach Spencer began to substitute early in the fourth. Both Anna Harder and Audrey Harder came off the bench and scored. At the final buzzer, Moore County beat Santa Fe 54-11.

Senior Charlotte Ray led with 12 points followed by freshman Ellie Graham and senior Chloe Brazier with nine points each. Senior Olivia Richards added seven points and freshman Katy Fletcher swished a pair of treys for six points. Junior Paisley Logan and senior Breanna Burks came off the bench and hit their own three-point shots. Freshmen Audrey Harder and Anna Harder scores two points each and junior Maecy Fletcher added a free throw.

The Raiderettes will now travel to Region 5A Tournament host Wayne County to take on Collinwood on Monday at 6 p.m. Those who can’t travel to the game can watch on the Moore County Sports Network broadcast on the NFHS Network .•

{The Lynchburg Times is the only locally owned newspaper in Lynchburg and also the only woman-owned newspaper in Tennessee. We cover Metro Moore County government, Jack Daniel’s Distillery, Nearest Green Distillery, Tims Ford State Park, Motlow State Community College, Moore County High School, Moore County Middle School, Lynchburg Elementary, Raider Sports, plus regional and state news.}