Coffee County guard Jaylon Wooten puts up a shot against two Tullahoma defenders on Thursday night. Wooten scored seven points for the Red Raiders against the Wildcats.Â
Tullahoma played spoiler on Thursday night after pulling away in the second half on its way to upending Coffee County on seÂnior night.
Early in Thursday’s matchup, the two teams spent the majorÂity of the first half sparring back and forth with each other. That was until the second quarter, and with 3:06 remaining in the second quarter, Jaxon Vaughn knocked down a basket to put Coffee CounÂty in front 26-21.
However, Tullahoma anÂswered back and scored 11-straight points to close out the first half, taking a 32-26 lead into halftime. Jake Hollandsworth led off the run with a pair of free throws, but it was Krys Uselton who took over the final two minutes of the secÂond quarter for the Wildcats.
In fact, Uselton put up the fiÂnal nine points of the first half, scoring on three-straight three-point plays. The sophomore guard knocked down a basket while beÂing fouled, and then added a free throw, before hitting back-to-back 3-pointers.
Coffee County hit the opening basket in the third quarter, but after that point, the Red Raiders’ offense was silent the remainder of the period. After Jaylon WooÂten hit the opening basket for Coffee County, Ben Fulton quickÂly answered with a 3-pointer for Tullahoma, making the score 35-28 with 7:39 left in the third period.
Only one other field goal was added before the end of the third quarter and Tullahoma took a 37- 28 advnatage into the final period of play. Hollandsworth hit that basket for the Wildcats, knocking down a jumper with three minÂutes left in the third quarter.
Coffee County put up five of the first seven points of the fourth quarter, cutting its deficit down to 40-33 with 4:18 remaining in the contest. Tullahoma counÂtered with a 13-0 run – a stretch that saw the Red Raiders called for two technical fouls – and it opened up a 53-33 advnatage with 2:15 left on the clock.
Coffee County went on to score seven of the final nine points of the game. Rod Brinkley scored five of those points, knockÂing down a 3-pointer before addÂing another field goal. Shawn AnÂderson added a basket in the final seconds of the matchup.
Wooten, Anthony and BrinÂkley all finished with seven points for Coffee County on Thursday. Connor Shemwell added five points for the Red Raiders. Kyle Farless and Vaughn each finished with four points, while Anderson, Collin Ward and Hayden Hullett each netted two points.
Despite the loss Coffee CounÂty had already locked up the top seed heading into the District 8-AAA Tournament which begins next week. The Red Raiders will open its district tournament on Thursday at 6 p.m.
All games during the District 8-AAA Tournament will take place at Lincoln County High School in Fayetteville.
On Thursday, Mar. 21, the Southern Indiana Screaming Eagles made history by winning their first WNIT game with a 69-64 victory over the UIC Flames and they will look to make the Super 16 when they play host to Wisconsin on Monday night.
On Saturday, the Coffee County Red Raiders took part in the Joe Adams Memorial Tournament at Walker Valley High School, losing to Cleveland 14-4 and beating Walker Valley 6-4.
On Thursday night, the Coffee Middle Lady Raiders overcame a first inning deficit to win 10-6 at Warren County, the Red Raiders swept the Pioneers in a doubleheader, and the Westwood Rockets lost in a 7-6 nail-biter to Liberty.