By Tabitha Evans Moore | Editor & Publisher
They’d managed two, gritty come-from-behind wins in the regular season and on Saturday at at the Region 4, District 15 Middle School Championship game at Lincoln County High School. The Raiderettes came out swinging, mounted an 11-point first period lead, and never took their foot off the gas.
The Raiderettes beat the scrappy Unity squad — for the third time this season — to win the title. At the final buzzer, the bright scoreboard lights read 46-39.
Moore County put up 18 points in the first, while holding the Lady Lions to just seven. Maddie Goodwin made her presence known with a pair of nothing-but-net treys to lead in the first. Inside, underneath powerhouse Addison Brandon added five more. The determined Sadie Ivey put up two more, and great on offense and smart on defense Haven Hornaday added a basket and one from the line.
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It was a little shock-an-awe for the Lady Lions who’d managed to lead early in the first two games. They settled down in the second period — scoring 14 while holding Moore County to 10. Goodwin got another trey and one from the line to lead in the second period as well. Baylee Thomas found her perimeter shot for three, and Madison Hatfield scored her first points of the game with two.
The Raiderettes went into the locker room leading 28-21.
We’re not sure what Head Coach Mika Phillips said in the locker room but it likely involved playing smart and protecting the lead, because that’s exactly what the Raiderettes did. They gave Unity just six points in the second half from the line.
They outscored them by two in the third period. Thomas led with another trey and two from the line. Brandon got a basket and one. Ivey and Hatfield added a basket each. The Raiderettes led 40-31 heading into the fourth.
But we mentioned that Unity was scrappy right? They made their best efforts at a fourth period comeback in want would have been sweet revenge. But alas, it was not meant to be. They ran out of opportunities and lost by seven, 46-39. The very talented Evvie Bryan led for Unity with 18 points. She led for Unity in all three games against Moore County.
Maddie Goodwin led for the Raiderettes with 13 points while Baylee Thomas and Addison Brandon followed with 10 points each. Sadie Ivey added six. Madison Hatfield scored four more, and Haven Hornaday swished three. All three player’s defensive efforts don’t show up on scoresheets but are unmistakable in person.
They will play a likely District 16 team in the Regional Tournament but at press time Moore County officials did not yet know who. They will play that game on Monday at a to be determined location. We’ll announce it when we have it. •
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