Lady Bulldogs fall at Lynchburg

By Dennis Holley Tribune Correspondent
Posted 1/29/20

The Cornersville Lady Bulldogs hit the road to Lynchburg to take on a District 8-A foe Moore County Raiderettes Friday night.

Moore County had to fend off the Lady Bulldogs, who came from 12 points back at the end of the third quarter to close to within three points before clutch free throw shooting from point guard Charlotte Ray enabled the Raiderettes to ease by Cornersville, 49-39.

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Lady Bulldogs fall at Lynchburg

Posted

The Cornersville Lady Bulldogs hit the road to Lynchburg to take on a District 8-A foe Moore County Raiderettes Friday night.

Moore County had to fend off the Lady Bulldogs, who came from 12 points back at the end of the third quarter to close to within three points before clutch free throw shooting from point guard Charlotte Ray enabled the Raiderettes to ease by Cornersville, 49-39.

“They played more as a team tonight,” Cornersville coach Martha Jane McMasters said. “Alicia Polk played well and Payton (Salsman), with her two three-pointers, really helped us.”

Play was brisk and the two-three zone defense by the Lady Bulldogs troubled Moore County.

Free throw shooting by Abbie Woodard and Meri Hannah Walker enabled the Lady Bulldogs to keep pace with Moore County early on and Payton Salsman aided the cause with a 3-pointer.

Moore County got baskets from four of their starters, plus six free throws to lead 14-9 at the end of the first quarter.

Salsman got her second 3-pointer as the Lady Bulldogs closed to within five points at 19-14 with 2:18 left in the first half.

The zone defense was effective in forcing the Raiderettes to shoot over the Cornersville defense.

The Lady Bulldogs added three free throws by Salsman and one from eighth-grader Kayli Childress to wrap up their scoring in the second quarter with the Raiderettes in front 22-16 at the half.

The Lady Bulldogs began the third quarter with steady free throw shooting from Salsman and Woodard, plus eighth-grader Gracie Turner, continuing her good play down low, contributed three points.

“They came out after halftime and made the adjustments I asked them to make and I felt we gave 110 percent and I’m proud of them,” McMasters said.

Lexi Warren scored two points to help the Lady Bulldogs stay within reach, although the Raiderettes’ lead ballooned to 12 points at 36-24 by the end of the third quarter.

The fourth quarter saw the Lady Bulldogs begin to inch closer and when Walker sank two free throws at the 5:36 mark it cut the deficit to 40-33.

Woodard scored a basket and when she made two more free throws Moore County led by three points, 40-37 with 3:19 left in the contest.

The Raiderettes began to eat the clock with a game of keep away, forcing the Lady Bulldogs to foul.

At the 2:58 mark, Cornersville committed its seventh team foul, putting MC in the one-and-one bonus at the foul line.

The Lady Bulldogs’ shots did not fall and they were forced to foul with Ray going to the line nine times for Moore County, converting eight.

The Lady Bulldogs played well together and with contributions from each player, the team is coming around.

“We played more as a team tonight, more than we did in the last couple of nights,” Salsman said.

Cornersville 9 7 8 15 – 39

Moore County 14 8 14 13 – 49

Cornersville (39): Payton Salsman 11, Abbie Woodard 11, Alicia Polk 6, Meri Hannah Walker 3, Gracie Turner 3, Grayson Riner 2, Lexi Warren 2, Jayli Childress 1.

Three-point Goals (2): Salsman 2.

Free Throws (21-for-30): Woodard 9-for-13, Salsman 5-for-6, Polk 2-for-5, Walker 3-for-4, Turner 1-for-1, Childress 1-for 1.

3 Point Goals (2): Salsman 2.

Moore County (49): Charlotte Ray 13, Erica Clifton 13, Regan Corder 11, Kerrigan Fanning 5, Carolyn Driver 4, Chloe Brazier 2, Madison Floyd 1.

Three-Point Goals (4): Clifton 2, Corder, Fanning.

Free Throws (16-for-27): Ray 8-for-10, Clifton 3-for-3, Corder 2-for-3, Driver 2-for-5, Floyd 1-for-2, Mary Fletcher 0-for-2, Brazier 0-for-2.

Halftime score: Moore County 22, Cornersville 16.

District 8-A Standings

Huntland (15-7, 5-0)

Eagleville (9-10, 3-2)

Fayetteville (11-8, 3-2)

Moore County (14-9, 3-2)

Cascade (2-18, 1-4)

Cornersville (3-16, 0-5)