CULLEOKA, Tenn. — It was a gritty performance that came down to the last 30 seconds but Moore County dropped a road game against Culleoka on Tuesday by a final score of 63-57.

The Culleoka game felt like an opportunity for the Raiders to bounce back this season. The boys in Columbia blue have struggled so far with four straight losses including losses to Community and Murfreesboro Central Magnet in the Cornersville Thanksgiving Classic as well as a 61-49 loss to Cascade and a 69-32 loss in Pisgah on December 5.

On the other side, the Culleoka boys came into Tuesday’s game batting 50 percent with wins against Forrest, Murfreesboro Central Magnet, and a pair of wins in the Huntland series and losses against Zion Christian, East Hickman, Community, and Collinwood. The Warriors came into Tuesday’s game fresh off a 80-56 win at Huntland on Monday.

Despite their record, the Raiders boast several bright spots this season. Big man Peyton Martin dominated underneath in the first four games – offering defenders a lose-lose situation. Opposing teams can either take him on one-on-one – often drawing the foul – or let him have the basket. Moore County’s also got a host of hot shots from the perimeter including Colton Morey, Jay Sparkman, Gavin Wise, and Brantley Hill.

Heading into Tuesday’s game most Raiders fans wondered if they could put together an inside-out game to earn their first “W” and gain some momentum with district play looming.

Raiders trail by two at the half

Moore County got out to a sluggish start in the first. They scored just 12 points while allowing the Warriors to mount 20. Martin dominated underneath in the first – scoring six points and adding two more from the line.

Moore County battled back in the second. Martin continued to produce in the paint while Tristyn Gray played won’t-be-denied offense – driving up and over Warriors down the lane. With a little under thiree minutes to play in the half, Martin stutter stepped and went up for two to tie it, 26-26. Culleoka answered with one from the line and a trey, then a determined Gavin Wise went up for two with 18 second to play before halftime. Moore County went into the locker room trailing by just two, 30-28.

Moore County continued to battle in the third. Martin scored underneath with less than a minute in to tie the game, 30-30 and Morey hit a trey to give the Raiders their first lead of the game. Brantley Hill then swished his own three point shot to make it 36-30.

Culleoka answered with back-to-back treys to knot the game again at 36-36. A Warrior then scored underneath to earn back the lead, 38-36. Hill went up again from the perimeter to earn back the lead, 39-38. A Sparkman jumper gave Moore County the edge once again and Martin scored from the left side to make it 43-40.

On their next possession, a determined Culleoka squad battled in the paint to earn the basket and one to tie the game then with seconds remaining, Morey drew the foul and made both to give Moore County a 45-43 lead.

Shots at the charity stripe allowed Culleoka to edge the Raiders. They made eight of nine from the line in the final stanza to pull ahead late. Moore County pulled within one with 1:31 with a perimeter swish from Morey but Warrior baskets at the charity stripe down the stretch sealed the win.

Martin led with 19, followed by Morey with 16

Peyton Martin led for Moore County with 19 points followed by Colton Morey with 16. Brantley Hill and Gavin Wise added six each. Jay Sparkman and Tristyn Gray scored four points each. Tucker Smith added a basket.

Moore County scored 34 from the floor and another 18 from the perimeter. Morey score 12 of his 16 from behind the line. The Raiders were five of nine (55 percent) from the charity stripe. For comparison, Culleoka scored 28 from the floor and 21 from the perimeter. They were an impressive 14 of 18 (77 percent) from the line.

The Raiders will move on to a home game against Forrest on Friday, December 13. Tip off will follow the Raiderettes game. Moore County will kick off district play on Friday, January 10 against Eagleville. •

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