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Coffee County basketball kicked off Thanksgiving week with a trip to Tullahoma to face its cross-county rival Monday night.

 The Lady Raiders got the doubleheader started with a competitive matchup, one that saw them break away in the second half to win 54-41. The boys’ team did not have the same luck, falling further behind as the game continued in a 63-46 loss to the Wildcats.

 Coffee County (4-0 girls, 1-3 boys) will travel to Fayetteville this evening for another doubleheader. The girls’ game is set to tip off at 6 p.m.

Lady Raiders retake control, beat Tullahoma

Coffee County girls’ basketball had its perfect start to the season tested in Tullahoma Monday, but ultimately passed to remain undefeated. After a tight first half saw them trailing the Lady Cats at halftime, the Lady Raiders separated themselves over the final two quarters to pick up the rivalry win.

“We had to find a way to get (Natalie Barnes) more open shots, so we drew up a new break in the second half and we put (Kaysen Morgan) and Barnes on the same side,” Coffee County coach Joe Pat Cope said of the team’s second-half strategy. “So when they were jumping gaps first half, we thought they wouldn’t be able to leave Kaysen. Well they did the first two possessions, and boom-boom, she knocked them down. After that, they stayed and instead of Natalie having a 5-10 foot gap, now she’s got a triple gap. She’s got 30 feet and nobody’s gonna stop her with that big of a gap.”

Trailing Tullahoma 10-6 after the first quarter, Coffee County continued to keep it close as the first half continued, taking the lead twice at 15-13 and 18-16. The Lady Cats answered right back both times to push back ahead and ultimately went into the break leading the Lady Raiders 20-18.

A 3-pointer from Kaysen Morgan and another basket from Natalie Barnes to open the second half put Coffee County back in the driver’s seat at 23-20, but Tullahoma continued to keep it close. Trailing 30-28 later in the third quarter, Barnes and Morgan led a nine-point scoring run to put the Lady Raiders back ahead. Tullahoma was able to knock down one more 3-pointer before the quarter came to an end to send Coffee County into the fourth up 37-33.

A competitive game up to this point, the Lady Raiders ultimately put together a comparatively dominant fourth quarter, outscoring Tullahoma 17-8 to push their lead to double digits before time expired.

“I think it’s just defense and then knocking down the big shots,” Morgan said. “It’s very important, especially this game.”

Barnes led the Coffee County offense with 29 points. Morgan had five baskets from downtown to add 15 points. Jaydee Nogodula followed with six points. Audri Patton had four points.

Raiders fall to Wildcats

Outside of early in the first quarter, Coffee County boys’ basketball found itself trailing Tullahoma for the majority of Monday’s nightcap.

Down 16-12 ahead of the second quarter, the Red Raiders continued to stay right behind the Wildcats as the first half continued. After back-to-back baskets from MJ Rollman and Audie Nicoll cut the Tullahoma lead to 20-18, the Wildcats separated themselves once again to go into halftime leading Coffee County 31-23.

This deficit continued to grow in the second half, with Tullahoma building a 49-31 advantage by the third quarter’s close and maintaining a double-digit lead on Coffee County through the game’s remainder.

Rollman led the Red Raiders’ offensive effort with 14 points. Brody Sizemore followed with a trio of 3-pointers for nine points. Nicoll added seven points. Jerrad Morgan came away with five points. Luke Campbell, Levi Rollman and Braden Sargent all had three points each. Zeke Jones had a single basket for two points.