By Tabitha Evans Moore, EDITOR & PUBLISHER

Record-breaking treys from Anna Harder, an opportunistic Katy Fletcher, and a break out game off the bench for Hannah Martin … those are the storylines from Moore County’s 57-24 Region 5A Quarterfinal win over Culleoka on Friday night in Lynchburg.

Heading into the game, Raiderette fans wondered if Moore County might get caught looking past the Lady Warriors. The gals in Columbia blue handily beat them on December 14 in Lynchburg, 52-20. Would #1 seed Moore County let down their guard and allow a #4 seed to write a Cinderella story?

As it turns out, the answer is no.

Anna Harder approaches Moore County single-game trey record with six

Moore County did come out a little flat in the first period, but luckily for them, so did Culleoka. Moore County scored a meager nine first period points while holding Culleoka to just four. Katy Fletcher, Ellie Graham, and Anna Harder combined for Moore County’s first points. Harder swished her first three of the game at around the 1:41 mark to end the first period scoring. It would be the first of six treys for 18 points for the junior guard. That got her close to tying the school record of seven held by multiple former Raiderettes, but beat her dad, Denning Harder’s career record of five in a single game – a fact that she was gracious about after the game, merely giving him a sly smile.

Madison Dingler kicked off the second period scoring with a trey to make it 12-4. Culleoka attempted to answer with their own trey, but it was air ball that sailed wide right of the net. Anna Harder then made back-to-back treys to double the Lady Warrior points, 18-9, with 5:09 to play in the half.

Though she didn’t have the numbers on offense, Graham played like a beast on defense fighting for rebounds and managing steal. Following Harder’s trey, she telegraphed and snagged a Culleoka pass, and dribbled down for a layup. A Lady Warrior fouled her on the attempt and she went to the line. The first went in nothing-but-net but the second bounced in and out to make it 19-9. Bella Tucker came off the bench and made the last point of the first half to send Moore County into the break with a 20-12 lead.

Opportunistic Katy Fletcher scores eight in the second half

Moore County saved their explosive scoring period for the third. They put up 24 points while holding Culleoka to just five points.

Dingler kicked it off the scoring once again with a trey, and then Graham blocked the Lady Warrior’s next shot to get the ball back.

Katy Fletcher lingered down low all game looking for opportunities. The baseline is Queen Katy’s kingdom and no one enters with paying the price. She rebounded the ball on the next play, and spotted a wide open Dingler, who went in for two, 25-12. On the next Raiderette possession, Audrey Harder returned the favor – dishing to Fletcher down low for two more, 27-12. Two plays after that, Fletcher saw a gap and went back in for two more to make it 29-12.

Culleoka’s Phynlee Keeing answered with two, then Anna Harder made trey number four. Fletcher went back inside two possessions later for another basket, before Harder hit trey number five to give Moore County a comfortable 37-14 lead.

With less than a minute to play, Harder made trey number six to make it 41-14. Culleoka’s Izzy Hargrove answered with a trey of her own, then Graham snagged a rebound and put the ball back up for two to end the third period, 44-17.

Hannah Martin comes off the bench for four points

The Raiderettes enjoy depth this season, and Coach Spencer is not afraid to give his starters a break and lean on his dependable bench. Numerous Raiderettes came off the bench and added points in the fourth period while holding Culleoka to just seven points. Hannah Martin had a break out game – scoring a layup a minute into the final quarer. She would add a jump shot two possessions later. In between, Fletcher eyed a rebound, crashed the boards, and added two more points to make it 50-17.

Ella Burks made one from the line and then eighth grader Ellie Carter made a basket in the final minute.

At the buzzer, Moore County won 57-24 to advance to a Region 5A Semifinal game with Cornersville on Monday at 7:30 p.m.

Anna Harder led for Moore County with 18 points — all from behind the perimeter. She was followed by fellow double-digit scorer, Katy Fletcher, with 12. Madison Dingler added eight points, and Ellie Graham added seven more. Hannah Martin (4), Emma Sazonov (2), Ella Burks (1), and Bella Tucker (1) all came off the bench and combined for eight points. Eighth grader Ellie Carter — who just got called up to the varsity roster a couple weeks ago — came off the bench and scored two.

Moore County will now move on to a Region 5A Semifinal game against Cornersville at Richland on Monday. The Lady Bulldogs beat Huntland 45-30 in Cornersville on Friday night to earn shot at taking down the gals in Columbia blue. {You can view the entire Class 1A West bracket by clicking here.}

Monday’s game will tip off at 7:30 p.m. If you can’t watch live, The Times will live blog the game with score and highlights. •

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