By Tabitha Evans Moore | EDITOR & PUBLISHER

LYNCHBURG — It’s hard to beat a team with depth. Add to that depth, a pressure defense, plus three starters in double digits, and the talent gap becomes insurmountable. That’s what happened on Tuesday as three Raiderettes starters combined for 36 points and a freshman and four JV players came off the bench to contribute 20 more. The winning combination handed the Raiderettes a 56-29 win over Cascade to sweep the 2024-25 series.

On December 3, the Raiderettes handed the Lady Champions a 63-40 defeat in Bedford County. In that game, senior Ellie Graham and junior Ally Sharpe combined for 42 points. {To read our complete coverage of that game, click here.}

This time around, three Raiderettes managed double digit points with a fourth hot on their heels. Senior Katy Fletcher led with 15 points followed by Graham with 11 points and Sharpe with 10. Freshman Emma Dye came off the bench and added nine more.

{Editor’s Note: This year’s Raiderettes basketball coverage is free to all readers thanks to our community partner, Woodard’s Market.}

Raiderettes led at the half, 18-6

The first quarter was a bit messy. Graham used her length to give Moore County the ball off the tip, then the Raiderettes immediately turned over the ball. The two teams traded turnovers and missed shots for the next three minutes until Moore County sent their former teammate, Caroline Parker, to the line.

Parker played with Moore County in the Class 1A State Runner Up season and transferred to Cascade after their final game. She swished both shots to get the Lady Champions on the boards first.

It would be Cascade’s only points of the first quarter – though Moore County hardly played an ace offensive period. Moore County didn’t score their first points until the 2:37 mark – a left side layup from Graham to tie the game. Moore County then scored five in the final 1:25 – all from Sharpe.

At the end of the first quarter, Moore County led, 7-2.

Moore County began to pull away in the second period and never looked back. They put up 18 points in the second period, while the Raiderettes defense held Cascade to just six. Moore County went into the half time break leading by 17.

Cascade attempted a comeback in the third period – outscoring Moore County by one point. At the end of the third, the Raiderettes continued to lead, 36-20.

Moore County plays a high-octane, pressure defense that usually wears down opponents by the fourth quarter. Tuesday’s game was no different. The Raiderettes put up 20 while holding Cascade to just nine. At the final buzzer, Moore County notched a 56-29 win and improved their overall season record to 14-3.

Katy Fletcher led Moore County with 15 followed by Ellie Graham (11), Ally Sharpe (10). Emma Dye came off the bench and contributed nine. Other contributing Raiderettes were Ellie Carter (4), Nora Kate Sumner (3), Bella Tucker (2), and Harley Hart (2). Caroline Parker led Cascade with 12 points.

Moore County will move on to a district game at Fayetteville on Friday. Tip off is at 6 p.m.•

{The Lynchburg Times is a locally owned and locally operated community newspaper in Lynchburg, Tennessee and one of the few women-owned newspapers in the state. It’s owned by a Tulane University-educated journalist with over 20 years of experience. We’re supported by both readers and community partners who believe in independent journalism for the common good. You can support us by clicking here. }