By Tabitha Evans Moore | Editor & Publisher
LYNCHBURG, Tenn. — Junior Colton Morey came out swinging in the first half and freshman Anderon Sharpe followed his lead in the second half to help Moore County earn a 62-56 district win over Fayetteville on Thursday at MCHS. The two double digit scorers were followed by seniors Tristyn Gray and Cooper Dickey, who contributed nine points each.
The win advances the Raiders to 3-2 and third place in District 9A play behind Richland and Cornersville. The loss drops Fayetteville to a goose egg in district play.
Raiders lead by four at the half
Moore County led the way in the first period — outscoring the Tigers by three. Morey put up eight of those points with Sharpe adding four. Cooper Dickey and Deacon Liles contributed two points each. Moore County finished the first period, leading 16-13.
It was same song second verse in the second with the Raiders scoring 15 and the Tiger trailing slightly with 13. Dickey led in the second with seven points. Sharpe added the Raiders first trey of the game and Morey and Knox Hall added a basket each. Gray was one of two from the line.
The Raiders went into halftime with a five-point lead, 31-26. Fayetteville’s Jayden Thomas did the heavy lifting for the Tigers with 13 of Fayetteville’s 26 points. He’d go on to lead his team with 25 total points.
Tigers attempt a fourth period comeback
The Raiders kept their collective Columbia blue feet on the accelerator in the third — besting the Tigers 18-12. Sharpe led with his second trey of the game and two baskets. Gray added five more and Morey swished a pair of baskets. Braylynn Hill came off the bench and contributed two. Moore County led 49-38 heading into the fourth period.
The Tigers attempted to rally in the fourth with 18 points — almost all of them from Thomas, who seemed to be trying to earn the win through shear determination. The Tigers held Moore County to 13 points — nearly half of which came from the line. Sharpe added his third trey and three from the line while Morey and Gray added a basket each and Gray, Knox Hall, and Liles swished one each from the line.
At the final buzzer, the Raiders managed a six-point win — beating the Tigers 62-56 and keeping them winless in District 9A play.
Anderson Sharpe led with 20 points followed by Colton Morey with 16. Tristyn Gray and Cooper Dickey added nine each. Knox Hall and Deacon Liles contributed three each and Braylynn Hill swished two.
Moore County scored 42 from the floor and 12 from the perimeter. They were eight of 15 from the line for 53 percent. For comparison, the Tigers scored 32 from the floor, 18 from the perimeter and they shot six of 12 from the line for 50 percent.
Moore County will play a non-district game against Franklin County tonight in Lynchburg before travelling to Lincoln County on Saturday. They will return to District 9A play with a rematch at Richland next Tuesday. Those other Raiders from Giles County got the better of the good guys in Columbia blue by just eight points on January 16. A revenge win could set the tone for Moore County heading down the stretch and into the post season. The Raiders have the talent to do it, but need all cylinder to fire at one to overcome Richland, whoc are currently perfect in District 9A play. •
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