Tuesday night’s opening game featured the Cornersville Lady Bulldogs (1-2), who made the short journey over Highway 129 to take on the Richland Lady Raiders (1-3) in a contest of bitter rivals from the bygone District 11-A days.

The Lady Raiders used a solid first half and a cold shooting, turnover plagued second half by the Lady Bulldogs to score a 59-25 victory.

”I felt that if we in the first half had hit our free throws, we would have been right there with them,” Cornersville coach Martha Jane McMasters said. “The second half we turned the ball over too many times. We are going to look at this and work to get better.”

Lady Bulldog Alicia Polk controlled the opening tip and Abbie Woodard was fouled and made one-of-two free throws to put Cornersville in the lead 1-0.

Richland’s Ali Garner made it 2-1 Lady Raiders on an inside basket before the Lady Bulldogs went cold from the field and baskets by Maiti Hood and Gracie Braden increased the home team’s lead to 6-1.

Jessie Jennings, Richland’s athletic point guard, made her presence known as she canned two baskets to push the lead to 10-1.

Bethany Fitzgerald and Merri Hannah Walker got baskets for Cornersville to cut the lead to 10-5, but Jennings canned another basket and Maggie Perry added a two pointer for Richland.

Jennings scored another basket and a free throw to end the quarter as Richland led 17-5.

The second quarter saw Cornersville claw their way back into the game as Polk scored seven points and Payton Salsman drilled two three-pointers.

Jennings kept the Lady Bulldogs at bay with four free throws to go along with baskets by Hood and Garner and the halftime score was Richland 30, Cornersville 18.

The second half began with Richland turning up the defensive pressure, causing turnovers and fouls by the Lady Bulldogs.

Polk drilled a basket, but shortly thereafter picked up her fourth foul and went to the bench.

Without Polk’s presence, the Lady Bulldogs found the going tough as the turnovers mounted with the Lady Raiders continuing the defensive pressure.

Braden and Garner made baskets and Jennings continued to score for Richland and when the quarter ended the Lady Raiders had a commanding 46-20 lead.

The fourth quarter saw Polk back in the game, but the damage had been done with Richland playing tough defense and the Lady Bulldogs still suffering more cold shooting.

Fitzgerald scored a basket and a free throw and Lexie Warren nailed a jumper for the only points of the final quarter for Cornersville.

Despite the cold shooting and turnovers there were two bright spots for the Lady Bulldogs.

Polk, a freshman point guard is the real deal. She can shoot, she can play aggressive defense and her on court savvy is impressive for such a young age. Athletic and tough minded.

“We should have done better, but it wasn’t because we didn’t play hard,” Polk said. “We turned it over a lot.”

Warren is small in stature, but plays with the heart of a champion.

If you haven’t seen these two players play, you should check them out some Tuesday or Friday night.

“Lexie was given a job to do tonight and she answered the call, and Alicia has a lot of responsibility on her shoulders and she has grown physically and mentally gaining confidence in her game,” McMasters said.

Cornersville 5 13 2 5 – 25

Richland 17 13 16 13 – 59

Cornersville (25): Alicia Polk 7, Payton Salsman 6, Bethany Fitzgerald 5, Merihannah Walker 2, Abbie Woodard 3, Lexie Warren 2.

Three-Point Goals (2): Salsman 2.

Free Throws (5-for-14): Polk 3-for-4, Fitzgerald 1-for-5, Woodard 1-for-2, Walker 0-for-3.

Richland (59): Jessie Jennings 18, Kristan Garner 12, Gracie Braden 10, Ali Garner 7, Maggie Perry 5, Maiti Hood 4, Katie Garner 2, Madison Rose 1.

Three-Point Goals (3): Garner 3.

Free Throws (21-for-32): Jennings 10-for-13, Braden 6-for-7, Katie Garner 2-for-2, Kristen 1-for-4, Rose 1-for-2, Ali Garner 1-for-2, Hood 0-for-2.

Halftime Score: Richland 30, Cornersville 18.