CHAPEL HILL — A fantastic start by the Forrest Lady Rockets couldn’t hold through the final three quarters, despite a season-best performance by Macyn Kirby, against the Moore County Raiderettes on Tuesday night.
The Lady Rockets held Moore County to a single basket in the opening quarter and led by double figures, but in the end, fell, 47-40.
In the opening quarter, everything fell the Lady Rockets’ way, from controlling the glass with rebounds, to forcing Raiderette turnovers, everything was going the home team’s way.
Senior Macyn Kirby flashed the hot hand early and knocked down nine of her game-high 26 points in the opening frame, including one of her four made three-pointers.
Moore County’s lone basket came from Ellie Graham with 5:45 left in the quarter.
From there, Forrest went on an 8-0 run, highlighted by a three-point play by Kinslee Inlow as she was fouled going to the basket and made the shot.
But the game turned on a dime as Moore County opened the second quarter on a 13-3 run, with Forrest’s lone points coming on a trey by Inlow at the 6:39 mark.
Forrest didn’t manage another basket until Kirby connected on a short jumper with 48 seconds left in the frame.
Even with the surge, Forrest held a 19-17 lead at the half.
The game began to spiral out of hand as the Raiderettes went for 19 in the third quarter.
Even on a 19-10 run through the third period, Forrest was still in the game and managed to cut the Raiderette lead to one possession after Inlow hit a jumper with 5:13 to go in the game.
But after Inlow’s shot, it was Moore County’s Madison Dingler who delivered on back-to-back steals resulting in layups that pushed the game back to eight points with three minutes to go.
Forrest didn’t manage another shot from the floor until Kirby struck with a trey with nine seconds left in regulation.
Kirby put the Lady Rockets on her back and posted a game-high 26 points, while Inlow added 10.
The Lady Rockets will open District 7-AA play on Friday night at Grundy County at 6 p.m.

Moore Co. 2 15 19 11 — 47
Forrest 14 5 10 11 — 40

Moore Co.: Madison Dingler 18, Ellie Graham 10, Macy Fletcher 8, Paisley Logan 7, Anna Harder 3, Katy Fletcher.
Forrest: Macyn Kirby 26, Kinslee Inlow 10, Megan Mealer 3, Kaylin Pope.
3-Point goals: Forrest (5): Kirby 4, Inlow; Moore Co. (3): Dingler 2, Logan.
Halftime score: Forrest 19, Moore Co. 17.