LYNCHBURG –– Close but no cigar. A week after handing the Fayetteville Tigers their first district loss of the 2021-22 season, the Moore County Raiders dropped a close 51-48 district home game against Eagleville —- their third three-point loss of the season.

The Raiders led for much of Friday night’s action — managing to get up 7-6 on the Eagles off points from Will Baker and Will Harder before letting Eagleville score six unanswered in the final two minutes of the first period to mange a five point lead. Three points shots by Keller Morey and Will Harder lifted Moore County to a one point lead after the first eight minutes.

Moore County outscored Eagleville by three in the second period. Up by just two points going into the final three minutes, Keller Morey and Alex Copeland scored back-to-back baskets to give the Raiders a 26-22 halftime lead.

The Eagles managed their big scoring period in the third putting up 23 points including 12 from the three point line. Around the six minute mark, one of those treys gave the Eagles a one point lead. Points by Colton Bateman and Alex Copeland helped Moore County battle back the lead. With two minutes remaining, the score was Raiders 41, Eagles 39.

Moore County turned the ball over on their next possession and then the Eagles scored to tie the game. Moore County couldn’t get the shot to fall on their next possession and the Eagle hit a trey on their next drive to gain the lead at the end of the third.

The Raiders and Eagles matched each other pretty much basket-for-basket in the fourth. With eight seconds remaining and the Eagles leading 48-51, Will Harder got the steal on the inbound pass with chance at the win. He got the ball to Alex Copeland who got the shot off in time but bounced just shy of the basket.

Alex Copeland led for Moore County with 19 points followed by Colton Bateman with 10 and Will Harder with nine. Kelley Morey and Will Harder each scored five points. The loss drops Moore County’s district record to 3-4 along with Cornersville and Huntland.

The Raiders will get a chance at redemption if they can beat Cornersville on the road on Tuesday. Huntland will play Eagleville that same night. •

{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.}