By Tabitha Evans Moore | Editor & Publisher
HUNTLAND, Tenn. — As often is the case in rivalry games, the Moore County Raiders battle with the Huntland Hornets in Franklin County on Tuesday was a bit of a back-and-forth affair.
Moore County got up big in the first quarter by outscoring the Hornets by 13 points. Two Raiders did much of the heavy lifting. Avery Rogers got fouled on a perimeter shot and impressively sank all three from the line. The Hornets backed off and he drained two more treys to lead in the first with nine points. Anderson Sharpe got hot behind the perimeter line as well. He made two treys and a basket to score eight first quarter points. Deacon Liles got in on the action with a basket. At the end of the first eight minutes, Moore County led 19-6.
Then the momentum swung Huntland’s way.
They rallied back with 17 second quarter points while holding the Raider to just four points — another trey by Sharpe and one from the line by Liles. Moore County and Huntland went into the locker room tied at 23 at the half.
Raiders pull away in th third
Then the momentum swung back the Columbia blue way.
Moore County outscored Huntland by five in the third. Sharpe drained his fourth three-point shot of the game and an inside basket. Tristyn Gray scored four from the floor and Rogers added another basket. An uncharacteristically quiet in the first half Colton Morey also got his first points of the game — both from the line. The Raiders managed a five point lead heading into the final period, 36-31.
It was just enough to hold off the Hornets. Moore County put up 18 fourth period points while the Hornets attempted to match them point-for -point. Morey came alive with five points followed by Sharpe, who swished his fifth trey of the game and one from the line. Liles added a pair of baskets and Tucker Smith added a clutch point from the line. Huntland sent the Raiders to line seven times down the stretch but the Raiders made only five of 15 free throws.
It was enough and Moore County walked away with a crucial District 9A game. The win gives them a 4-3 district record. They sit in third place behind Richland and Cornersville.
Anderson Sharpe, who could not miss from the perimeter, led the Raiders with 20 points. Avery Rogers had a break out game with 11 points. Tristyn Gray contributed eight. Colton Morey and Deacon Liles added seven points each. Tucker Smith got one from the line.
The Raiders will get one more game in their regular season before heading into the District 9A Tournament. They’ll play their second game of the regular season against Franklin County in Winchester on Friday. Tip off happens after the girls’ game. •
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