By Tabitha Evans Moore, EDITOR & PUBLISHER

The Moore County Raiderettes made the short trip to Fayetteville on Friday for a district rematch with the Lady Tigers – falling in the final 20 seconds and losing their first District 9A game by one point, 47-46. No one likes to lose, but there is often a silver lining and for the gals in Columbia blue that lining is depth.

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. It’s depth like that that will serve them well down the stretch and into the post-season.

Moore County came into Friday’s game fresh off a 61-14 non-district win over the Whitwell Lady Tigers. The Fayetteville Lady Tigers lost to Huntland in Lincoln County on January 26 by a final of 75-60. The Raiderettes handled their business against Fayetteville in their first match up on January 12 – handing them a 65-35 loss in Lynchburg.

However, on Friday night the Lady Tigers used nine treys to help lift them to the 47-46 win. It marks the first District 9A win for the Fayetteville girls team this season. The Raiderettes remain in the top spot in the district standings with a 4-1 record followed by Huntland (3-2), Eagleville (2-3) and Fayetteville (1-4).

Raiderettes lead by two at the half

The Raiderettes and Lady Tigers matched each other point-for-point in the first period. Madison Dingler made Moore County’s first point of the game from the line. Lady Tiger Kayten Parks answered with the first of her two first period treys. One possession later she swished her second – giving the Lady Tigers an early 6-1 lead. All but three of Fayetteville’s 12 first period points came from the perimeter.

Moore County battled back with a lay up from Audrey Harder and a three-point shot from Anna Harder to tie the game at 6-6 at around the six minute mark. Fayetteville built their lead back to four before Ellie Graham and Katy Fletcher both made two from the line to tie the ballgame again at 12-12 to end the first period.

The lead changed six times in the second period. Fayetteville’s Te’Asia Ewing swished a trey and Casyn Gentry made one from the line to build the Lady Tigers lead back to four, 16-12, then Audrey Harder and Graham made buckets to tie the game again at 16-16. Graham then intercepted a Lady Tiger pass, and took off on a fast break to give Moore County back the lead, 18-16. Fayetteville Kaylee Morris answered with a trey to give the Lady Tigers back the lead with around three minutes to play in the half. Fletcher answered with a determined right side layup, then Moore County sent Ewing to the line. She hit one of her two shots to tie the game, 20-20.

Fayetteville then returned the favor, sending Dingler to the line. She hit one of two to pull Moore County ahead by one. The Raiderettes then fouled Kalli Morris from behind the perimeter line – sending her to the free-throw line for three shots. She made two of three to give the Lady Tigers back the lead.

Graham made a jumper and Fletcher made one of two from the line with 45 seconds to play in the first half to send Moore County into the locker room leading by two, 24-22.

Graham led in the first half with eight followed by Audrey Harder with six. Fletcher added five more. Anna Harder swished a trey and Dingler scored two from the line.

Raiderette pull within one with 20 seconds to play

The Lady Tigers pulled away slightly in the third period – scoring 13 while holding the Raiderettes to just 10. Fayetteville’s Trinity Dixon swished two treys in the third period to help earn Fayetteville’s 35-34 third period lead.

Fayetteville’s Kyliah Simpson scored the first points of the fourth period and Fletcher immediately answered with a get-out-of-my-way drive down the left side. Fayetteville then went on a six-point run to put them ahead 43-36.

Emma Savonoz came off the bench and made one of two from the line and then Graham made a left side layup to cut the lead back to four. With 1:51 to play in the game, Fayetteville stretched that lead to seven, 47-40.

But a determined Moore County squad battled back. Audrey Harder hit one of two from the line to cut the lead to six, then Dingler made a nothing-but-net trey to cut it to three, 47-44. With less than a minute to play, Parker came off the bench, snagged a right side rebound, and put the ball back up to make it 47-46. 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.

Katy Fletcher and Ellie Graham led for Moore County with 12 points each followed closely by Audrey Harder with 10. Madison Dingler added five. Anna Harder contributed four. Caroline Parker and Emma Sazonov came off the bench and added three combined points. Trinity Dixon led the Lady Tigers with 17 points.

Moore County will travel to Murfreesboro Central Magnet on Monday before taking on Huntland in the final regular season district match up on Friday. •

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