By Tabitha Evans Moore | EDITOR & PUBLISHER
LYNCHBURG, Tenn. — They battled in the first two quarters to lead 26-23 at the half, but the Moore County Raiderettes dropped a district game with a 52-47 loss to the Richland Lady Raiders in Lynchburg on Friday night.
The Lady Raiders jumped out to a 16-11 lead in the first half thanks, in part, to six points from the charity stripe and another six from the perimeter from the duo of Baily Blair and Mary Avery McNeese. Ellie Carter swished the first trey of the game on the Moore County side and Emmeree Greenway and Bella Tucker fought for point inside. The Lady Raiders battled to keep MC shooter Ally Sharpe in check, but she managed a perfect four or four from the line. At the of the first stanza, Moore County trailed by five.
The Raiderette defense turned things up a notch in the second quarter — putting up 15 points while holding the Lady Raiders to just seven — a trey by Blair and a pair of buckets by McNeese. Emma Dye led in the second stanza with six points. Never one to be held down for long, Sharpe got free behind the perimeter for three. Abbie Bateman fought inside for a bucket plus two from the line and Greenway added two more.
Moore County went into the locker room leading by three, 26-23.
Richland battles back in the second half
The Lady Raiders came out swinging in the third quarter and managed 12 points while holding the gals in Columbia blue to just five. Harley Hart came off the bench and made all five of Moore County’s third quarter points. Moore County trailed, 35-31 headed into the fourth.
Sharpe wore down the Lady Raider defense in the fourth and swished three treys and two baskets to put up 13 of Moore County’s 16 fourth quarter points. Tucker added one from the line and Dye swished a lone basket. The duo of Blair and McNeese put up all but two of Richland’s 17 fourth quarter points — including eight from the line.
At the buzzer, Moore County fell five points shy — losing 52-47. The loss drops them to 1-1 in District 9A play.
Blair and McNeese combined for 44 or Richland’s 52 points. The Lady Raiders scored 18 from the floor, 18 from the perimeter, and 16 from the charity stripe. They were 16 of 22 from the free throw line or 73 percent.
For comparison, Moore County score 22 from the floor and 18 from the perimeter. They swished seven from the free throw line. They shot seven of 11 from the line or 64 percent.
Despite being quite in the first half, Ally Sharpe led Moore County with 20 points. Emma Dye scored eight. Harley Hart added five more. Both Abbie Bateman and Emmeree Greenway scored four points each and Bella Tucker and Ellie Carter added three each.
Moore County will travel to Cornersville on Tuesday for another district matchup. Tip off of the girl’s game starts at 6 p.m. •
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