The Tullahoma Wildcats and Lady Cats did something no THS basketball program has done in at least 10 years – sweeping Coffee County at “The Patch” Saturday night in Manchester. Although records and scores from the past are not readily available, the Lady Cats have not beaten Coffee County in at least a decade.
The Lady Cats (9-5) jumped out to an early lead and rode a dominating rebound effort to a 65-59 win over the Lady Raiders (14-2). The Wildcats (10-4) led from start to finish, beating the Red Raiders (8-7) 68-47.
Lady Cats 65 Lady Raiders 59
Tullahoma connected on 18-23 free throws in the second half, while Coffee County hit 9-15 in what became a free-throw battle in the second half. The Lady Raiders erased a 16-point Tullahoma lead, closing it to four before the Lady Cats hit their final free throws. The victory ended Coffee County’s 51-game home winning streak.
Gena Hickerson scored 17 points and hauled in eight rebounds to earn the Midtown Nutrition Player of the Game. Lizzy Sharpton had 16 points and six rebounds, McLayne Bobo scored 12, all in the second half, and had eight rebounds, and Kenzie Ferrell had 14 points and nine rebounds. Madison McCarl added three points and six rebounds, and Aubrey North hit two late free throws.
But it was Tullahoma’s defense and their commitment to driving to the basket that consistently kept the Lady Cats in front, leading to 23 made free throws on the night. Tullahoma hit only two three-point shots, while the Lady Raiders hit 10, but the work around the basket was the difference.
Wildcats 68 Red Raiders 47
Tullahoma extended its winning streak to eight games over the Red Raiders behind a balanced scoring attack and Coffee County’s lack of another scoring threat besides MJ Rollman, who scored 24 points. All other Red Raiders combined scored only 23 points.
Meanwhile, the Wildcats jumped out to a 10-2 lead midway through the first quarter and were never threatened by the Raiders. Tullahoma led 12-3 after one quarter, 26-15 at the half, and 44-30 after three quarters. Alex Bobo was the spark plug early and earned the Midtown Nutrition Player of the Game. Bobo finished with 16 points, five steals, and four rebounds.
Nine different Wildcats scored. Jayden Thompson had a strong game with 15 points and six rebounds, while Sam Bobo and Alex Miller each scored 10, with Bobo hitting two first-half three-pointers that kept the Wildcats comfortably ahead and adding four rebounds and two assists.
Lukas Price scored five, Austin Tinnon had four, Jackson Knight scored three with two blocked shots, and Colton Tinnon and Andrew Carmack had two points each.
Tullahoma will host Lincoln County at the “Cat Palace” on Monday, with the girls’ tipoff at 6 pm on 93.9 The Duck.
The Lincoln County boys are 11-1 and beat Tullahoma 60-57 in overtime on Dec. 5 in
Fayetteville. The Lady Falcons are 10-3, having lost 36-34 to Tullahoma. The Lincoln County girls have won their previous five games.
