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The 2025-26 season got started in impressive fashion for Coffee County basketball Monday night.

Hosting Greenbrier for a boys’ and girls’ doubleheader, both the Lady Raiders and Red Raiders came away with dominant victories in front of the home crowd at Joe Frank Patch Gymnasium. The girls got it started with an 82-33 victory over the Lady Bobcats, before the boys followed up with a 75-36 thrashing in the nightcap.

Coffee County (1-0 girls, 1-0 boys) remains at home to face Franklin Thursday evening. The girls’ game is scheduled to tip off at 6 p.m.

Lady Raiders roll

Coffee County girls’ basketball got off to a quick start Monday evening, taking off for 33 points in the first quarter on the way to defeating Greenbrier by 49 points to get the season started.

“We struggled a little bit this weekend in our playday. We’d been playing well, went in there and struggled and we just really talked about not expecting it’s gonna happen like it has the last few years. We’ve got one starter back, Natalie Barnes, four new faces, so I thought we went into Saturday thinking man, we’ve got this. We’re Coffee County. People don’t care who you are. You have to come out and play,” Coffee County coach Joe Pat Cope said. “(Monday night), they came out locked in, they were laser-focused. I think they realize now this isn’t like last year. We’re gonna have to play hard every position and they did tonight.”

Up 33-5 ahead of the second quarter, the Lady Raiders expanded their lead to 56-17 by halftime. Coffee County’s dominance continued in the second half, with the team finishing the third quarter up 79-25 before allowing just eight more Greenbrier points before time expired.

“We knew we couldn’t overlook anybody. I think we brought out good energy and we handled business,” Natalie Barnes said. “It definitely feels really good. I’m really excited for this season, even though we lost a bunch, but we also have a bunch, so I think we’ll be alright.”

Barnes led the way with 33 points. Audri Patton followed with nine points, just ahead of Hayleigh Harris and Kaysen Morgan with eight points each. Adalyn Clark added six points and was followed by Andon Selvog and Lilly Matherne with five points each. Jaydee Nogodula and Kinsley Pruitt each came away with three points. Morgen Spears had a single bucket for two points.

Red Raiders take care of business

A somewhat tighter start in the first quarter gave way to a dominant showing as the game continued for Coffee County boys’ basketball, with the team ultimately winning by 39 points on the way to the season-opening victory.

“We just settled in. Everybody was excited at the beginning, missing some easy shots around the basket. Then we settled in, saw the ball go through the hoop some, turned it up on defense a little bit, got out in transition, guys made shots,” Coffee County coach Andrew Taylor said. “We just settled down I think is the main thing.”

An 8-0 start for the Red Raiders quickly turned into a 10-9 lead after the Greenbrier offense began to knock down baskets of its own. Coffee County was able to once again separate itself from there, finishing the first quarter on a 10-0 run to begin the second quarter up 20-9.

The Red Raiders continued to maintain their lead as the new quarter got under way, but the Bobcats continued to linger early on. Up 26-18 following a Greenbrier basket to cut the lead back within 10, Coffee County proceeded to drain 13 unanswered points on the way to taking a 39-22 lead into halftime.

The Red Raiders continued to maintain a double-digit lead for the entirety of the second half, finishing the third quarter up 55-32 before outscoring the Bobcats 20-4 in the fourth quarter.

“I think we played as a team and we just shot the ball well. We knew we were bigger than them, so we posted up. I think we just played as a team and played good, played good defense. We really locked in that second half,” MJ Rollman said. “It feels great to get a win. Last year, we started off with Seigel, we lost, so it feels great to win one, but we’ve just gotta keep moving forward, we’ve gotta keep getting better, so that’s really it.”

Rollman led the Coffee County offense with 25 points. Brady Christian followed with 11 points. Jerrad Morgan picked up nine points. Zeke Jones and Audie Nicoll added six points each, finishing just ahead of Gabe Hambly and Luke Campbell with five points each. Levi Rollman and Braden Sargent each came away with three points. Jude Golembiewski had a single basket for two points.