The Cornersville Lady Bulldogs (8-11, 0-3), looking to snap a five-game losing streak and needing a district win, welcomed the Moore County Raiderettes (14-8, 2-1) in a District 9-1A basketball game on Homecoming Friday night.
The Lady ‘Dawgs, with senior Alicia Polk playing perhaps her best game of the year with a 26-point effort, grabbed an early lead over Moore County then withstood a third quarter run by the Raiderettes and stood tall with free throws in the fourth quarter to derail Moore County 53-40. Cornersville had not beaten the Lady Bulldogs since 2009.
“I was a little worried that Homecoming might affect the way we played but we came out ready and stayed locked in and on top and we were able to withstand the runs that Moore County made,” Lady Bulldog coach Hayden McMahon said.
Polk started her night with a drive to the basket that put Cornersville on the board first, 2-0.
The Raiderettes employed a three-quarter court press that in the past has been a sore spot for the Lady ‘Dawgs, but this time Cornersville went to Ady Gentry down low where she was fouled, then sank two free throws.
Cornersville continued breaking the press with crisp ball movement and Polk scored on a short jumper then Gentry on the next possession, grabbed a rebound and put it in for a 10-2 lead after one quarter.
Pork stayed on target as the Lady Bulldogs held off a Moore County run led by two Madison Dingler three-pointers.
Gentry picked up her third foul and went to the bench but freshman Camille Franklin, showing much potential and learning on the fly, came in and contributed a key assist.
“When Gentry picked up her third foul we went from a man-to-man defense to a three-two zone and it helped us,” McMahon said.
Dingler for MC then sank a three-pointer and Cornersville called time-out with the score, 17-10.
Annabelle Mulliniks drove a dagger into Moore County with back-to-back threes to make the score 23-10 at the half.
Polk drained a three-pointer for Cornersville, but the Raiderettes then made a seven-point run to cut the lead to 26-1.
Anna Wood hit back-to-back three pointers and the Lady Bulldogs bounced back to a 32-17 lead.
MC’s Paisley Logan drained a three-pointer to make the score 32-20, but Jayli Childress for the Lady ‘Dawgs popped a short jumper and the lead moved out to fourteen points, 34-20.
Gentry, back in carrying three fouls, sank one of two free-throws to make the score 37-26 after three quarters.
The Raiderettes resorted to fouling as time ran down in the fourth quarter.
The Lady ‘Dawgs, showing mental toughness, sank 14-of-17 free-throws with Polk sinking all eight of hers, as they grabed their first district win of the season.
“This has been a long time coming, the last three or four games, we finally got over the hump, we practiced well and you know every player on my team is important to me. Great win!” McMahon said.
The Lady Bulldogs will entertain district leader Huntland next Tuesday night with tipoff scheduled at 6 p.m.

Moore County 2 8 16 14 – 40
Cornersville 10 13 14 16 – 53
Moore County (40): Paisley Logan 12, Katy Fletcher 11, Madison Dingler 7, Ellie Graham 5, Anna Harder 3, Macy Fletcher 2.
Free Throws (7-18): K. Fletcher 2-for-3, M. Fletcher 2-for-4, Logan 1-for-2, Dingler 1-for-2, Graham 1-for-4, Harder 0-for-3.
3 Point Goals (7): Logan 3, Dingler 2, Harder, K. Fletcher.
Cornersville (53): Alicia Polk 26, Ady Gentry 7, Anna Wood 6, Annabelle Mulliniks 6, Jayli Childress 4, Franklin 2, Powers 2.
Free Throws (17-23): Polk 8-for-8, Gentry 3-for-4, Childress 2-for-5, Powers 2-for-2, Franklin 2-for-4.
3 Point Goals (6): Polk 2, Wood 2, Mulliniks 2.
Halftime score: Cornersville 23, Moore County 10.