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On Monday night at Coffee County Central High School, the Lady Raiders captured the TSSAA 4A District 9 Tournament Title, narrowly beating the Lincoln County Lady Falcons.

The Lady Raiders had the jump at the start, outscoring the Lady Falcons 17-12 in a back and forth opening frame.

Lincoln County came fighting back in the second, outscoring Coffee 11-7, but the Lady Raiders remained in front at halftime, 24-23.

The battle continued on into the third, where both teams scored eight points apiece as the Lady Raiders remained in front 32-31 heading into the fourth.

The Lady Falcons fought hard to stay in the game, but Coffee’s Natalie Barnes seemed to match their every blow, scoring a couple of triples in the early minutes of the fourth quarter.

This situation isn’t new to Barnes, who almost always seems to find the basket in the closing moments of a close game.

“Coach Cope always says, ‘a shooter shoots’,” remarked Barnes. “Olivia did a great job of penetrating the defense which gave me wide open shots and from then on, it was like target practice and you just knock ‘em down.”

Barnes, as well as teammate Jules Ferrell, hit some free throws down the stretch as the Lady Raiders secured the win, 49-45, and won yet another District Championship.

“The feeling never gets old,” said Coach Joe Pat Cope. “Now we need to take that next step and go win a Region Title.”

Scoring for the Lady Raiders in the District 9 Championship Game were Natalie Barnes with 20 points, Jules Ferrell with 11 points, Channah Gannon with nine points, Olivia Vinson with seven points and Audri Patton with two points.

After the game, Jules Ferrell, Channah Gannon and Natalie Barnes, who were all recently named to the Regular Season All-District Team, were named to the All-Tournament Team, with Barnes taking Tournament MVP honors.

“It’s nice to win the award,” said Barnes. “But our whole team played really hard and it was great to get that District Championship.”

Tonight’s game was also notable for another occasion.

Olivia Vinson, recently named the District’s Regular Season MVP, scored her 1000th career point in the early stages of the game.

“It feels great,” said Vinson. “But getting that win was even better.”

The Lady Raiders are now 28-3 after their District Tournament Championship win, and they will take their 15-0 record at Joe Frank Patch Memorial Gymnasium into the Regional Tournament where they will host Independence on Friday, Feb. 23 at 7:00 pm. 

Before the District 9 Championship Game took place, Shelbyville Central defeated Columbia in the Consolation Game, 63-58 in a double overtime thriller as the Golden Eaglettes placed third in the District Tournament.