Raiderettes win Region 5A championship

On Wednesday night, the Moore County Raiderettes played nip-tuck basketball with Richland for three quarters.

In the fourth, Audrey Harder drained a 3-pointer to give MCHS a 39-34 lead, and that proved to be the spark down the stretch as the Raiderettes posted a 54-43 victory in the Region 5A Championship Game.

The teams were 16-all after the first quarter. Emma Dye had two treys, and Ellie Graham added two baskets and a free throw to lead the Moore County offense. Ally Sharpe had three free throws, and Katy Fletcher chipped in two to round out the Raiderettes' scoring.

Emma Sazonov had a 3-pointer and a bucket in the second quarter, while Fletcher – a basket and two freebies – and Sharpe – a field goal – also scored. MCHS outscored Richland 11-10 to take a 27-26 lead into the locker room.

Fletcher (4), Dye (3), and Graham (2) accounted for the Raiderettes' scoring in the third as Moore County took a two-point lead, 36-34, into the fourth quarter.

Harder's 3-pointer got the fourth-quarter scoring underway. A Richland turnover led to a basket by Graham to push the Raiderettes' advantage to 41-34.

Down the stretch, Sharpe was 6-for-6 from the free-throw line. Graham (3), Dye (1), and Harder (1) also hit from the charity stripe in the fourth.

Graham scored seven points in the fourth, followed by Sharpe (6), Harder (4), and Dye (1).

Graham, named Region 5A Tournament MVP, led Moore County with 14 points. Sharpe had 11, and Dye and Fletcher had 10 each. Sazonov (5) and Harder (4) rounded out the scoring.

Shelby Higgins led Richland with 16 points.

Moore County finished with 11 field goals and four 3-pointers. The Raiderettes hit 20 of 24 free-throw attempts.

Dye, Fletcher, and Graham were named to the All-Region team.

Moore County (28-3) will host McEwen at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Sectional round.