Raiderettes trounce Culleoka, 80-36

Championship teams beat the teams they're supposed to. Mission: Accomplished on Friday night.

The Raiderettes won their first game of the Region 5A Tournament, 80-36, against Culleoka – a team they defeated twice in the regular season.

Class 1A Miss Basketball finalist Ellie Graham scored a game-high 17 points – 15 in the first quarter – as Moore County built an insurmountable 36-6 lead.

Graham scored four buckets, drained a 3-pointer, and converted four foul shots in the first quarter.

Katy Fletcher had eight points in the quarter, while Ally Sharpe chipped in five, including a trey, and Emma Dye and Audrey Harder added four each.

The Raiderettes (26-3) kept their foot on the gas in the second quarter. Emma Sazonov had seven points, including a 3-pointer, and Hannah Martin drained a 3-ball as MCHS pushed its advantage to 56-10 at the break. Fletcher, Graham, Anna Harder, Audrey Harder, and Sharpe had two points.

The second half was a preview of years to come for Moore County.

The Raiderettes scored 24 second-half points – 15 in the third and nine in the fourth: junior Makenzie Goodwin (5, including a 3-pointer), junior Bella Tucker (4), freshman Abbey Mason (4), freshman Ellie Carter (3 on a trey), freshman Lily Hoagland (3 from behind the arc), freshman Alexus Hornaday (3-pointer), and sophomore Ella Burks (2).

Fifteen players dented the scoresheet for Moore County as it hit 24 shots from the floor plus eight 3-pointers. The Raiderettes were 8 of 9 from the free-throw line.

Kendall Reischman led Culleoka with 16 points, including three 3-pointers.

MCHS previously defeated the Lady Warriors 75-29 on Dec. 10 and 68-37 on Dec. 17.

Moore County advances to face Cornersville – a 45-33 winner against Eagleville – at 6 p.m. Monday at MCHS.