By Tabitha Evans Moore | EDITOR & PUBLISHER

LYNCHBURG, Tenn. — It’s Friday evening and the Moore County Raiderettes huddle just before tip off against the Forrest Lady Rockets. In the distance, a blue shark mascot – otherwise known as MCHS student Braylen Castell – paces in the distance. Why is there a shark at a Raiderettes game? Because this year’s mantra for the Chad Spencer-coached Moore County girls squad is “be the landsharks.”

The term originated in 2008 when Ole Miss senior linebacker Tony Fein started making the shark fin gesture over his head after big defense plays. If you watch closely during a Raiderettes game, you’ll occasionally catch a player doing the same.

During practice, Coach Spencer says the player who gets the most stops and deflections gets to wear the landshark costume and get their picture made in it. It’s a gimmick to help the girls have fun while working hard.

“I love pressure,” Coach Spencer tells us. “Nobody wants to play basketball against that. It makes the other team uncomfortable. Our girls buy into that and they aren’t afraid to play physical.”

That certainly felt true on Friday night in the Raiderettes home opening win against Forrest. By the third period, the Lady Rockets looked visibly frustrated. Moore County held them to single digit points through all four periods.

On the other side of Friday’s girls game sat Lady Rocket head coach John Wild – a name that should be familiar to most Moore County fans. Wild coached the 1999 Raiders teams that won the Class A Boys State Championship – Moore County’s lone boys’ gold ball to date.

“I know Coach Wild and consider him a good friend,” Coach Spencer said after Friday’s game. “I respect him and have learned a lot from him over the years.”

Coach Spencer explained that Forrest tried to execute a triangle defense against the Raiderettes on Friday. It’s a strategy that combines man-to-man and zone defense to limit scoring opportunities. It didn’t work. Three Moore County players – Katy Fletcher, Ellie Graham, and Ally Sharpe – managed double digits points. Madison Dingler was also on pace to hit double digits but she got injured in the second half and had to settle for nine points.

“We just have too many weapons,” Coach Spencer said. “We nearly had four girls in double digits. When you do that, you’re suppose to win.”

{Editor’s Note: This year’s Raiderettes’ basketball coverage is free to all readers thanks to our community partner, Woodard’s Market.}

Raiderettes pull away early, lead 27-11 at the half

Moore County jumped out to an early 13-17 lead on Friday and never looked back. At the 6:04 mark, Katy Fletcher shot, missed, got her own rebound, and shot again for the Raiderettees first two points. Moore County then went on a eight point run with a basket and trey by Ally Sharpe and a trey by Madison Dingler to get up 10-0. Forrest made their first points of the game at the 2:11 mark with a three-point shot by Anna Rabun. The Lady Rockets managed to pull the game within six at the end of the first stanza. Moore County led Forrest 13-7.

And then the landsharks in Columbia blue smelled blood. They put up 14 second period points while holding a exasperated Lady Rockets to just four points. Moore County went into the halftime break leading 27-11. Sharpe led in the first half with 11 points followed by Fletcher (7) and Graham (6). Dingler added a trey and Emma Sazonov managed a basket.

Depth shows in the fourth period

Moore County came out of the break full throttle. They put up 25 points while holding the Lady Rockets to just seven. Graham got the first four points with consecutive baskets underneath. It was part of a nine-point run that included another trey by Dingler. The Rockets finally got on the boards again around the five minute mark with a basket by Sadie Smith and a trey by Rabun. Moore County then went on a 16-point run to close out the second period with points by Fletcher, Dingler, Graham, Makenzie Goodwin, and Sharpe. The third period ended with a big 52-18 Raiderettes lead.

Moore County boast depth this season and it showed down the stretch on Friday. Coach Spencer began to substitute heavily in the fourth quarter with Bella Tucker, Makenzie Goodwin, and Hannah Martin all coming in to start the final period. Multiple Raiderettes including Harely Hart, Ellie Carter, Anna Harder, and Goodwin came of the bench and added points.

Katy Fletcher and Ellie Graham led against Forrest with 14 points each. Ally Sharpe followed with 11 points. Other contributing Raiderettes were Madison Dingler (9), Harley Hart (3), Emma Sazonov (2), Ellie Carter (2), Anna Harder (2), and Makenzie Goodwin (2).

Moore County earned 36 from the floor and 18 from the perimeter. They shot five of 10 (50 percent) from the free throw line. For comparison, Forrest earned 12 from the floor and just six from the perimeter. They were six of 10 (60 percent) from the line.

Moore County will play highly-ranked Loretto at home on Monday. That game will tip off at 6 p.m. at the MCHS Gym. •

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