By Tabitha Evans Moore | EDITOR & PUBLISHER

SPENCER, Tenn. — As a general rule, when any basketball team boasts more than one player who can put up double digits in a single game, they present a formidable offensive challenge. On Tuesday in Van Buren County, three Raiderettes — Katy Fletcher, Ellie Graham, and Ally Sharpe — put up not only double digits but combined for 60 points to help lift the Raiderettes to a 70-46 win over a ranked Lady Eagles’s team — and it was never close.

The Monday prior to the game the Tennessee Sports Writers Association ranked the Moore County Raiderettes (17-3, 3-0) as the number three Class 1A team in the state of Tennessee and tied Van Buren County (15-3, 3-0) with North Greene for the number eight spot. Tuesday was the first meeting ever of the two Class 1A powerhouses.

But what most fans anticipated as a slug fest between two ranked teams, fizzled under the weight of a knock out offensive performance from Fletcher, Graham, and Sharpe as well as staunch team defensive effort.

Raiderettes led by 16 at the half

Moore County jumped out to an early 10-point lead in the first period and never looked back. Neither team managed to score on their first possession. On the second, substantial post player Cara Mills went up for the Lady Eagles first basket. Mills and teammate Abigail Netherton combined for all 20 of Van Buren County’s first half points. Ally Sharpe answered with the Raiderettes first points then she, Graham, and Anna Harder went on a seven-point run to put the Raiderettes ahead 9-2.

Mills broke the streak with another basket underneath, then Fletcher answer to make it 11-4. Mills went back to the same play on the next Lady Eagle possession to pul Van Buren County within five. It was as close as the Lady Eagles would get.

Moore County led 18-8 at the end of the first and stretched that to a 16-point lead at the half.

Disciplined, pressure defense

The Raiderettes pressure defense kept Van Buren County on their heels for much of the game. However, Moore County played disciplined basketball. They only sent the Lady Eagles to the line once in the first half and three times through four periods.

Van Buren shot five of eight from the line. For comparison, Moore County made 11 of 13 from the line and Graham managed a perfect six of six.

One of the interesting matchups of the game was the defensive battle in the paint between Mills and both Fletcher and Graham. Despite the size difference, both Raiderettes leverage their height and mechanics to stymie Mills. She managed just 12 points.

After the break, Moore County took their foot off the gas slightly. They put up 14 points while allowing the Lady Eagles to nearly match them with 13 points. They ended the third leading by 17. Moore County put up 20 in the final stanza.

At the final buzzer, the Raiderettes notched a double-digit win over a quality Van Buren team.

Fletcher had a fantastic second half — proving she’s an inside out player. She drove over Mills inside for layup after layup and then swished nothing-but-net perimeter points.

She led with 22 points followed closely by Ellie Graham with 21 and Ally Sharpe with 17. Other contributing players were Emma Sazonov with five, Emma Dye with three, and MacKenzie Goodwin with two. Abigail Netherton led for Van Buren County with 24.

The Raiderettes will return to District 9A action on Friday with a home game against Eagleville. It will be game two for Moore County and the Lady Eagles. The Raiderettes defeated Eagleville 55-42 on January 9 in game one.

{The Lynchburg Times is a locally owned and locally operated community newspaper in Lynchburg, Tennessee. We’re the only newspaper that publishes editions twice a week every Sunday and Wednesday as well as breaking news as it happens. It’s also one of the few women-owned newspapers in the state. We’re supported by both readers and community partners who believe in independent journalism for the common good. You can support us by clicking here. }