By Tabitha Evans Moore | EDITOR & PUBLISHER
LYNCHBURG, Tenn. — An argument could be made that the Moore County Middle School Raiderettes versus Unity Lady Lions game in Lynchburg on Thursday was the most exciting game in the state. Heck, it felt more thrilling than an WNBA game.
It was the rematch of the season.
On January 8, Moore County travelled to Unity and put together a come-from-behind win thanks in no small part to Addison Brandon – who put up 22 points and single-handedly outscored the Lady Lions. On Thursday, Unity came into the MCHS Gym gunning for revenge.
After falling behind early and trailing for three quarters, the gritty, won’t-stop Raiderettes mounted a fourth quarter comeback to earn a one-point home win with the game decided with no time left on the clock free-throw from Unity.
From my seat behind the home bench, shear determination and grit fueled the victory.
Raiderettes trail 17-10 at the half
Unity drew blood first with points underneath then held the Raiderettes scoreless until Sadie Ivey made Moore County’s first points of the night to make it 10-2 with 1:47 left to play in the first.
The Raiderettes then played scrappy defense for the final minute of the first. It ended 10-3 after Addison Brandon went to line and made one of two.
Much like their first match up of the season, Unity played aggressive, up tempo defense. The Raiderettes came alive in the second. The offense matched Unity point-for-point thanks to a trey by Madison Hatfield, and baskets by Brandon and Haven Hornaday.
The Raiderettes went into the locker room trailing by seven, 17-10.
Unity drew blood again at the beginning of the first., then scored back to back drives before Brandon ended the drought — going inside strong for two.
The Raiderettes reigned in the rebound category in the second — snatching balls and crashing the boards.
It paid off at the 2:24 mark when Hatfield drained a three from the deep perimeter to pull Moore County within seven. Hornaday scored two plays later to narrow it further to five.
United got a steal and points in the final minute. They led at the half, 17-10.
Raiderettes get the lead with under five minutes to play
Maddie Goodwin got the Raiderettes going in the third with a trey. Unity answered and then drew the foul — making one of two.
Brandon swished one from the line on the following play then Ivey earned put back points with 40 seconds to play to narrow the Unity lead to four.
The third quarter ended with Unity clinging to a 20-16 lead while Moore County slowly built momentum.
The determined Raiderettes saved their best efforts for the fourth. The put up 11 while holding Unity to just eight.
Brandon went to the line and scored two to make it 20-18. She’d eventually do the heavy lifting — scoring eight of the Raiderettes 11 fourth quarter points. Several plays later, Hatfield fought for possession and the shot — drawing the foul. She made one of two to make it a one-point game.
Don’t let anyone tell you that middle school girls’ basketball isn’t fierce. Following Hatfield’s shots from the line, Emaley Thomas set up down low, planted her feet, and drew the charge as the Unity player came in hot. Afterwards, she lay on the floor for several minutes as coaching staff and the medical trainer attended to her. She got up and was helped off the floor with a goose egg forming on her head.
With a little under five minutes to play, Brandon got the rebound, put back points, and the lead, 21-20. Unity then turned the ball over thanks to heads up defense by Hatfield leading to a layup by Brandon to stretch the lead to three, 24-20.
Both teams went scoreless for several possessions, then traded foul shots. With around one minute to play, Hatfield and Ivey scored back to back to pull ahead by five, 27-22.
Then with 35 seconds remaining, Unity ‘s Evvie Bryan went back to the line and made both to cut the lead back to three, 27-24. Then back again to cut it to one. 27-26, with 19 seconds remaining.
On the next possession, Brandon went up strong inside and drew a foul. She swished both to make it 29-26 with 13 second left. As seconds clicked off, the Lady Lions fought for the shot as Moore County dug in their heels. Unity got the shot and the and one foul as time expired. The home and visiting crowds went nuts.
With no seconds on the clock, Unity headed to the line to tie the game and missed — giving the Raiderettes the 29-28 win.
Addison Brandon led for the Raiderettes with 12. Sadie Ivey and Madison Hatfield followed with six points each. Maddie Goodwin scored a perimeter three and Haven Hornaday added two more.
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