By Tabitha Evans Moore, EDITOR & PUBLISHER
If there’s one game the Moore County Raiderettes circled on their post-season schedule, it was the opportunity for a rematch with the Fayetteville Lady Tigers. On February 2, the Lady Tigers used perimeter shots to lift them to a one-point win over Moore County – handing the ladies in Columbia blue their lone regular season, District 9 blemish.
In that game, freshman Caroline Parker came off the bench in the fourth period and made a clutch, right side layup with 20 seconds remaining to put the Raiderettes within striking distance. The Lady Tiger fouled Audrey Harder with 20 seconds to play but she couldn’t connect on either shot from the line. Fayetteville then turned the ball over and Graham attempted a buzzer beater from the half court line but it bounced just right of the goal. {To read our complete coverage of that game, click here.}
On Tuesday night, in a first round District 9A Tournament game in Eagleville, the Raiderettes got their revenge. A dogged, determine Raiderettes defense forced turnover after turnover, and held Fayetteville to just five points in the first half and zero fourth period points to end Fayetteville’s season with a 59-9 loss.
Now in all fairness and for context, the Lady Tigers were missing their star point guard Trinity Dixon on Tuesday. Dixon put up 17 points – including 12 points from the perimeter – in Fayetteville’s upset win over Moore County.
Raiderettes hold Lady Tiger to five in the first half
The Raiderettes jumped out to a 9-3 first period lead on Tuesday. Katy Fletcher nudged the ball Moore County’s way on the tip off and the Raiderettes immediately went to work when Anna Harder threw a cross court pass to a wide open Madison Dingler for two. Fayetteville turned the ball over on their first and second possessions, then Fletcher hit a jumper to make it 4-0.
Moore County ran a full court press defense in the first period that stymied the Lady Tiger offense. The Raiderettes intercepted passes, and harassed Fayetteville ball handlers to force turnovers and gain possessions. They also did a great job of rebounding.
Just after the five minute mark, Anna Harder drove down the left lane for two more points and drew the “and one” foul. She missed it but teammate and her twin sister, Audrey Harder snagged the rebound to maintain possession. Dingler then passed back to Anna Harder, who swished a trey to give Moore County their final points of the first period. Fayetteville’s Kayden Parks scored the Lady Tigers lone points of the first at around the one minute mark. At the end of the first, Moore County led 9-3.
Moore County put up 16 points in the second, while holding the Lady Tigers to just a single basket. To go into the halftime locker room up 25-5.
Moore County blanks Fayetteville in the fourth
The Raiderettes put up their biggest scoring period in the third – despite heavy substitution – scoring 22 points while holding the Lady Tigers to just four points.
Fletcher got the second half scoring rolling with a right side layup, then she tipped a Lady Tiger pass to Ellie Graham who hit a fast break and passed to Dingler for two more, 29-5. Anna Harder then tipped another pass, fed it to Dingler, who fed it right back to her for two more, 31-5 – prompting a Fayetteville time out.
Fayetteville missed on their next shot and Anna Harder snagged the rebound. The Raiderettes lost the ball and fought to get it back, passing to Dingler on the right side for two more, 33-5. The two teams traded turnovers, then Audrey Harder set up behind the perimeter for three more to make it 36-5 with 5:56 to play in the third.
On the next possession, Graham fed the ball to Dingler again on the right side for two points. She drew the “and one” foul but missed it. Dingler intercepted a Lady Tiger pass on the next play, and dribbled down the left side this time for two more, 40-5 – prompting another timeout.
Coach Spencer pulled his starters in the third period. Seven Raiderettes came off the bench in the second half and added 23 points.
Madison Dingler led for second game in a row with 12 points followed closely by Katy Fletcher with 10 points. Anna Harder swished nine and Bella Tucker came off the bench and scored seven points. Other contributing Raiderettes were: Ella Burks (4), Audrey Harder (3), Hannah Martin (3), Valeria Riviera (3), Emma Sazonov (2), Caroline Parker (2), Ellie Graham (2), and Ellie Carter (2).
The Raiderettes will move on to a second round game against Eagleville on Friday night in Rutherford County. Eagleville beat Huntland 61-49 on Tuesday night to advance. That game will happen at 7:30 p.m. Fayetteville and Huntland will play a consolation game at 6 p.m. that same night. •
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