LYNCHBURG, Tenn. — The Moore County Middle School Raiders showed up and showed out for Eighth Grade Night in Lynchburg on Thursday handing the Blanche Bulldogs a crushing 51-21 defeat.

Raiders build a 16 point first half lead

The scrappy middle school Raiders jumped out early on the Bulldogs and never looked back. Moore County started with a four point run thanks to a a trey by Colton Morey and one from the line by Luke Stubblefield. Blanche got on the boards around the three minute mark with a basket underneath. Morey answered with another basket to make it 6-2.

A Raider foul sent a Bulldog to the line on the next possession and he swished one of his two shots. On Moore County’s next possession, Tucker Smith muscled his way to the basket to build the Moore County lead to five. Blanche answered with their final points on the first period then Luke Stubblefield hit a long-range, buzzer beater trey to end the first period. At the end of the first six minutes, the Raiders led the Bulldogs 11-5.

Moore County started the second period with a 3-point shot from Braden Works. Blanche answered with a basket underneath then Moore County went on a five point run with points by Tucker Smith, Colton Morey, and Tyler Bateman to make it 22-8. Blanche got their final points of the first half around the two minute mark while the Raiders finished out with points by Smith, Morey, and Luke Stubblefield. At halftime, the Raidere led the Bulldogs 27-10.

Multiple Raiders came off the bench to score

The Raiders built their lead to 17 points in the third period. The Raiders drew first blood out of the break with a jumper by Colton Morey followed by unanswered baskets by Tucker Smith and Luke Stubblefield. Blanche then answered with a trey and a basket following a Raider turnover to make it 32-15. Moore County then managed an 11 point run with points from Smith and a trey by Brayden Morrison to make it 43-15. The third period ended with a 3-point shot by Chris Dingler. At the end of the third, the Raiders led 46-17.

MCMS Raider Head Coach Kinsley Logan substituted heavily in the final stanza and multiple Raiders including Ryland Stovall, Drew Hardison, and Avery Rogers came off the bench and scored points. At the final buzzer, Moore County notched a 51-21 win.

Tucker Smith led for Moore County with 13 points followed by fellow double-digit scorers Colton Morey with 11 and Luke Stubblefield with 10 points. Other contributing Raiders were Braden Works, Chris Dingler, and Brayden Morrison with three points each. Avery Rogers, Ryland Stovall, and Kason Ferrara added a basket each and Tyler Bateman and Drew Hardison swished a free throw each. •

{The Lynchburg Times is an independently-owned, community newspaper located in Lynchburg, Tennessee the home of The Jack Daniel Distillery. We focus on public service, non-partisan, rural journalism. We cover the Metro Moore County government, local tourism, Moore County schools, high school sports, Motlow State Community College, as well as whiskey industry news and regional and state stories that affect our readers.}