By Tabitha Evans Moore
Editor & Publisher
LYNCHBURG, Tenn. — They’re young and it’s a rebuilding season, but that didn’t prevent the Moore County Raiderettes from playing some excellent basketball over the past week as MCHS played host to the District 9A Tournament.
The Raiderettes narrowly lost to Cornersville, 37-36, on February 19 and handedly beat Fayetteville 56-41 on February 23 to finish third in district play behind Richland and Cornersville. The Lady Raiders from Giles County took home the trophy — beating Cornersville 48-43 on Monday.
Lost to Lady Bulldogs by one in game one
The Raiderettes took a tough loss to Cornersville in their first match up in the district tournament. It was the third “L” of the season for the gals in Columbia blue to the Lady Bulldogs. They fell by seven, 56-49, on January 20 and by four, 41-37, on February 6.
Both teams came out swinging with Cornersville outscoring Moore County by one in the first period. Ellie Carter — who really shined in the tournament earning herself tournament honors — led with five points. Teammates Ally Sharpe, Bella Tucker, Abbie Bateman, and Paisley Kelly all added a basket each. At the end of the first eight minutes, Moore County trailed by one, 14-13.
Sharpe came alive in the second period. She scored two treys and one from the line to lead in the second. Tucker added a pair of baskets and Carter earned one more from the line. The Raiderettes defensive stiffened heading into the halftime break — allowing just nine Cornersville points. Moore County went into the break leading by two, 25-23.
The Raiderettes and Lady Bulldogs matched each other basket-for-basket in the third — scoring six points each. Tucker and Kelly managed a basket each and Carter swished two from the charity stripe. The Raiderettes continued to lead 31-29 at the end of the third.
The Raiderettes scored just five points in the final stanza — a basket by Emma Dye, two from the line from Carter, and a free throw by Tucker — while Cornersville eked out eight points. At the buzzer, Moore County fell just one point behind — suffering an early loss that placed them in the consolation bracket.
Carter led against Cornersville with 10 points followed closely by Sharpe and Tucker with nine points each. Paisley Kelly scored four while Bateman and Dye scored a basket each.
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Carter makes three treys against Lady Tigers
The Raiderettes made a statement in the first period against Fayetteville — nearly doubling the Lady Tigers points. The three ball showed up for Moore County in the first eight minutes with Sharpe, Dye, and Carter all draining treys. Sharpe narrowly led with seven points with Tucker adding six more. The Raiderettes led at the end of the first, 19-11.
But the Lady Tigers didn’t lay down. They put up 14 second quarter points while holding Moore County to 13. The Raiderettes kept up thanks to a trio of three balls by Abbie Bateman, Dye, and Carter. Dye led the second with five points. Moore County went into the locker room with a comfortable 32-25 lead.
The Raiderettes have been a third quarter team this season and that trend continued in the post season. They scored 11 points after the break while holding the Lady Tigers to just five. Carter continued her can’t-miss perimeter streak with a trey as well as a basket and two from the line. Tucker and Kelly added a basket each. Moore County stretched their lead to 13 in the third to go into the fourth leading 43-30.
The Raiderettes outscored Fayetteville down the stretch — putting up 13 and holding the Lady Tigers to 11. Interestingly, nine of Moore County’s final stanza points came from the line. Sharpe scored their only points from the floor. Emmeree Greenway, Maddie Goodwin, Addison Brandon, and Brooke Ledbetter all came off this bench in the fourth to contribute. At the buzzer, the Raiderettes notched a 56-41 win — earning themselves third place.
Carter led with 13 points followed by Sharpe with 11. Tucker and Dye swished eight points each while Bateman and Kelly added four apiece. Ledbetter made all three free throw after being fouled on a trey attempt. Greenway and Ledbetter came off the bench to score two each and Goodwin added one more.
Moore County will now move on to the Region 5A Tournament. They play Santa Fe at Santa Fe on Friday at 7 p.m. Richland, Cornersville, and Fayetteville will move on as well while the Huntland Lady Hornets ended their season. •
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