LOCAL SPORTS | Chapel Hill — It was the one-two punch from a Moore County senior and a Moore County freshman that sent the Forrest Rockets girls basketball team into the L column on Tuesday. Senior Olivia Richards scored 21 and freshman Ellie Graham scored 20 to combine for 41 of Moore County’s 52 points in the 52-41 victory.

The Raiderettes came into the game hot off a 55-34 loss to the Tullahoma Lady Wildcats in Lynchburg last Friday. Tullahoma managed a 31-15 first half lead against the Raiderettes with 27 of those points coming from the three point line. They kept that same energy through the final stanza to earn the 55-34 victory. Chloe Brazier led for the Raiderettes against Tullahoma with 13 followed by Ellie Graham with 10. 

The Lady Rockets came into the game following a 56-35 beat down at Eagleville in Rutherford County last Friday. The Raiderettes loss makes six straight for the Rockets girls team whose records falls to 2-6.

Third period defensive stand seals the win

Forrest jumped out to a 15-11 first period lead against the Rockets thanks in part to a pair of treys by Megan Mealer and Addison Bunty. Ellie Graham scored 10 of the Moore County’s 11 first period points. In the second period Moore County outscored the Lady Rocket by six thanks in part to another good period by Graham with eight points as well as baskets by Olivia Richards. The Raiderettes went into the locker room at half time with a two point lead, 26-24.

After the break, the Raiderettes managed a frustrating, stifling third period for the Rockets blocking shots, snagging rebounds, and forcing turnovers. The Raiderettes put up 13 points – including two treys from Olivia Richards – while holding the Lady Rockets to just a single three point shot and two from the charity stripe. By the end of the third period, Moore County had mounted a 10 point lead. They kept the lead in the final stanza walking away with a 52-41 victory on the road.

Olivia Richards led for the Raiderettes with 21 point followed by Ellie Graham with 20 points. Chloe Brazier and Katie Fletcher contributed four points each and Paisley Logan swished a basket. Charlotte Ray earned one point for the charity stripe. Macyn Kirby led for Forrest with 13 points.

The Raiderettes travel for their second of three straight away games on Thursday as they head to Culleoka. Moore County beat the Lady Warriors 67-31 in Lynchburg on November 30. The school is located at 1921 Warrior Way in Culleoka about an hour and a half from Lynchburg. Due to illness, the Moore County Sports Network student broadcasting team will not be making the trip but Culleoka will broadcast on the NFHS Network. You can access it at this link. •

{The Lynchburg Times is the only independently 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.}