Alyssa White of the Viqueens goes up for a shot despite pressure from Moore County. (Post Photo by Rickey Clardy)
By Rickey Clardy
Sports Writer
UNIONVILLE — The Community Viqueens led for most of the first half, but an offensive drought in the middle quarters was the difference as the Moore County Raiderettes came from behind to defeat the Viqueens 45-40 in a basketball contest Friday night.
Behind the hot shooting of Savannah Pearson, Community (5-3) took the lead in the opening quarter.
Pearson scored 11 points, including three treys as the Viqueens were hot from the field and took a 19-16 advantage into the second quarter.
With Pearson scoring five points in the quarter, the Viqueens managed to take their biggest lead at 26-18 with 2:49 remaining before the points came hard to come by. Meanwhile, the Raiderettes netted the last eight points of the quarter to tie the game at 26-26 heading into the intermission.
“The last four minutes of the second quarter, we kind of shot them back in it,” Coach Cody Pierce of the Viqueens said. “We haven’t been in a spot against a team like that.”
Moore County, fresh off two straight state tournament appearances, took its first lead at 27-26 with 6:16 left as the Viqueen offense went eight minutes without a point before scoring its only two points of the third quarter.
The Raiderettes outscored Community 12-2 and took a 38-28 lead to the final quarter.
Anna Haskins scored five points for the Viqueens in the quarter as Community attempted to cut the Raiderette margin.
A 7-0 run put the Viqueens within four at 42-38 with 1:16 left, but Community could not get closer as the Raiderettes took the 5-point win.
Ally Sharp scored 19 points while Emma Dye added 15 to lead Moore County.
Pearson led the Viqueens with 18 points.
The Raiderettes were 8-of-11 at the free throw line while the Viqueens were 2-of-3.
The Viqueens will travel to Huntland for a 6 p.m. game Tuesday night.
Moore Co. 16 10 12 7 — 45
Community 19 7 2 12 — 40
Moore Co.: Ally Sharp 19, Emma Dye 15, Ellie Carter 6, Bella Tucker 2, Lily Hoagland, Alexus Hornaday 3, Emmeree Greenway, Paisley Kelly, Abbie Bateman, Harley Hart.
Community: Savannah Pearson 18, Anna Haskins 9, Alyssa White 8, Brooklyn Yoes 3, Mattie Maxey, Hayden Moore 2, Morgan Pridmore, Sara Flannagan, Madisyn Hill.
3-Point goals: Moore Co. (7): Sharp 3, Carter 2, Dye, Hornaday; Community (6): Pearson 4, Haskins, Yoes.
Halftime score: Moore Co. 26, Community 26.