LOCAL SPORTS | Lynchburg — The Moore County Raiderettes lost another close game to their district rivals the Huntland Hornets on Friday in Lynchburg. The 52-48 loss drops Moore County’s district record to 3-2 and allows Huntland to stay perfect in District 8A play. The two teams traded losses earlier in the season. On November 23, the Raiderettes beat the Lady Hornets 45-41 at the Whitwell Thanksgiving Tournament. Then on January 11, Moore County dropped their district opener against the Lady Hornets 51-38 in Franklin County.
Raiderettes start slow in first half
The Raiderettes got out to a bit of a slow start in the first half putting up just 19 to Huntland’s 30. The Lady Hornets got on the boards first when refs called a shooting foul on the first possession. The Lady Hornet made one of her two shots. It would be the first of 24 Huntland points from the charity stripe in the game. Moore County got called for 10 first half team fouls and 16 second half team fouls for a total of 26. The Lady Hornets got whistled four times in the first half and eight in the second half for a total of 12. Moore County scored nine point from the foul line.
Ellie Graham got on the boards first for Moore County with second effort in the paint. The two teams then went three minutes without a score before a Lady Hornet drove inside for two to give Huntland a three point lead. Chloe Brazier answered immediately and drew a foul on the shot. Her “add one” tied the game. The Lady Hornets then scored five answered to double the Raiderette points. Olivia Richards ended the scoring drought with a jumper to make it 10-7. Moore County trailed by three at the end of the first period.
Huntland put up their big scoring period in the second with 20 points compared to Moore County’s 12. Ellie Graham and Chloe Brazier got back-to-back Raiderette scores to pull within two points, 13-11, around the six minute mark. Then Huntland scored five unanswered to pull ahead 18-11. Following a Moore County time out, Katy Fletcher swished a trey to cut the lead to four. Huntland answered with a basket then Olivia Richards drained another three to pull back within three. Moore County then allowed Huntland to score eight unanswered to build an 11 point lead. The Raiderettes went into the half time locker room trailing, 30-19.
Moore County battles back in second half
The Raiderettes came out of the break determined to battle back. They amped up their offense while stiffening on defense – scoring 16 while allowing just five Lady Hornet points in the third. Points by Chloe Brazier in the first two minutes cut the lead to eight. Huntland answered then Charlotte Ray put on a defensive clinic. She wrapped up, force a jump ball, and then tipped a Huntland shot to force a turnover. On the following possession, she nailed a shot from the perimeter to cut the lead to five. On the next Moore County possession, Erica Clifton swished another three to cut the Huntland lead to four.
On the next Huntland possession, refs sent the Lady Hornets to the line and both shots fell. Two possessions later, the Raiderettes fouled again. The Lady Hornet hit both shots to make is 35-28. Ellie Graham answered with a basket and drew an “and one” foul. Her free throw missed but she made up for it on the next offensive series with a basket to make it a five point game. Charlotte Ray then forced a turnover on the next Huntland possession. She stole the ball, went on a fast break, but was fouled on the layup. Her two from the charity stripe made it 35-32. Huntland turned the ball over on their next possession then Ray drained her second trey of the third quarter to tie the game, 35-35 to end the third period.
Ellie Graham scored the first Moore County points of the fourth quarter with one of her two from the free throw line to give Moore County a one point lead. Several possessions later, the refs sent Lady Hornets to the line two possessions in a row. The Lady Hornets swished three of those four to make it 38-35. Then spotting her out of the corner of her eye, Ellie Graham dished to Chloe Brazier who was patiently waiting down low. Her basket made it a one point game.
Huntland doggedly went after the offensive rebound on the next play. Those second chance points stretched the lead to three. Moore County and Huntland then traded points at the line. Ellie Graham then scored to make it a one point game once again. With under two minutes to play, Moore County trailed 41-40. Huntland then scored six unanswered to pull ahead 47-40. Undaunted, Chloe Brazier and Ellie Graham scored to battle back to 48-46. Huntland answered then Brazier went up inside to make it a two point game. With 23 seconds left in the game Huntland went to the charity stripe for four more points. The final score was 52-48.
Chloe Brazier led for the Raiderettes with 16 followed by Ellie Graham with 12. Other contributing Raiderettes were Charlotte Ray (8), Olivia Richards (5), Katy Fletcher (4), and Erica Clifton (3). Richards, Fletcher, Clifton, and Ray all scored from the perimeter. Logan McLennan led for the Lady Hornets with 20 points including two from the perimeter and another six from the line.
The Raiderettes play their third straight home game on Tuesday against Fayetteville City. Those who can’t attend the home district in person can watch the Moore County Sport Network’s student broadcasting team on the NFHS Network. The Lynchburg Times will also live blog the game on its Facebook Page. •
{The Lynchburg Times is the only locally-owned newspaper in Lynchburg and also the only woman-owned newspaper in Tennessee. We cover Metro Moore County government, Jack Daniel’s Distillery, Nearest Green Distillery, Tims Ford State Park, Motlow State Community College, Moore County High School, Moore County Middle School, Lynchburg Elementary, Raider Sports, plus regional and state news.}