By Tabitha Evans Moore | EDITOR & PUBLISHER
CORNERVILLE, Tenn. — By all accounts, it was a frustrating game for Moore County’s boy’s basketball team on Tuesday in Cornersville. They battled back from an early first period deficit to go into the halftime locker room trailing by just two. The Bulldogs pushed back in the third quarter and ultimately handed the Raiders a 66-48 loss. The Raiders are now 1-3 in District 9A play.
Despite the disappointing result for the Raiders — whose heart and grit aren’t accurately depicted in their record — two Moore County players, Anderson Sharpe and Colton Morton, managed double-digit, standout performances.
Sharpe dominated in the first quarter — scoring nine of the Raiders 13 points through the first eight minutes. Morey and Braylynn Hill contributed the other two baskets. The Bulldogs Ayden Campbell led on the other side of the ball — managing an “and one” basket, two layups inside, and one from the line.
Moore County trailed 18-13 at the end of the first.
But a determined Raiders squad battled back in the second — putting up 11 while holding the bulldogs to just eight points. Morey led the come back with a trey, a basket, and two from the line for seven points. Sharpe and Deacon Liles also added a bucket each.
Moore County trailed at the half by just two, 26-24.
Raiders score just four third period points
Foul counts became an issue in the second half. By the final buzzer, basically Moore County’s entire starting five all fouled out with Morey, Sharpe, Liles, Cooper Dickey, and Tristyn Gray all headed to the bench early.
Stymied on every shot, the Raiders put up just four points in the third quarter, baskets by Morey and Sharpe. They trailed 44-28 heading into the fourth period.
There’s no quit in this year’s Raider squad and they battled back in the fourth — nearly matching Cornersville shot-for-shot in the fourth. Morey led the charge with eight points. Sharpe drained a three ball. Gray added a pair of baskets inside. Drew Hardison came off the bench to score two. Ryland Stovall also subbed in and swished two from the line. Liles added one more. Together they scored 20 to the Bulldogs 22, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the third period deficit.
At the final buzzer, Moore County lost 66-48.
Colton Morey (19 points) and Anderson Sharpe (16 points) combined for 35 points. Other contributing Raiders were Tristyn Gray (4 points), Deacon Liles (3 points), Braylynn Hill (2 points), Drew Hardison, (2 points), and Ryland Stovall (2 points).
The Raiders will move on to their first match up against perennial rivals, the Huntland Hormet on Friday in Lynchburg. The Hornet are currently 1-1 is district play — losing to Cornersville on January 13 and beating Fayetteville on January 16. •
About The Lynchburg Times: The Times is a locally-owned, independent newsroom located in Lynchburg, Tennessee. We are funded through voluntary reader support, small business community partners, and corporate underwriters like Lee Adcock Construction. This article is free to read thanks to their support. Please support the local businesses that support community journalism.