Abby Morgan of Lady Raider Basketball

A cold night in Shelbyville carried over into the gym as cold shooting doomed the Lady Raiders against the Eaglettes on Friday night in the district opener. After taking a 5 to 0 lead in the first 3 minutes of the game, the Lady Raiders saw the Eaglettes go on a 35 to 9 run to close out the first half dooming Coffee County to a 70 to 35 loss. The Lady Raiders were led in scoring by Alliyah Williams who had 13 points. Freshman Abby Morgan notched 10 points to be named the Gateway Tire and Service Center player of the game. With the loss, Lady Raiders record drops to 3 and 2 overall and 0 and 1 in District 8AAA play.

Stephen Sullivan of Red Raider Basketball

After being held to 1 point in the first quarter the Red Raiders used an 11 to 2 run to the cut the Shelbyville lead to 15 to 12 at the half of a low scoring boys contest. Shelbyville cured their shooting woes in the second half as Coffee County continued to struggle dropping a 45 to 22 decision to the Eagles. The Raiders were led in scoring by Stephen Sullivan who had 7 points as he was named the Gateway Tire and Service Center player of the game. Wyatt Day added 6 points and Kohl Young netted 5 points for Coffee County.  The Raiders are now 3 and 3 on the season and 0 and 1 in District 8AAA play.
Coffee County returns home next week for a pair of games at the Joe Frank Patch Memorial Gym. On Tuesday night, it is a non district matchup with Warren County. The Red & Black will return to District 8AAA action on Friday night as they play host to Lawrence County. The girls’ game tips off at 6 PM each night and exclusive coverage of Coffee County basketball is heard on Thunder Radio beginning with the Powers Storage Pregame Show at 5:50 PM.

Rein Bozich of CHS Wrestling squares off with an Oakland wrestler in a preseason match

The Red Raider wrestling team of Coffee County returned to the mats on Thursday night in a dual match at Oakland. The young Raider grapplers had problems with the more experienced wrestlers from Oakland and Page. Coffee County dropped both matches on the evening.
Against the home standing Patriots, the Raider wrestlers got a pair of pin fall wins to go with a decision win to accumulate 15 points on the match. Wrestling at 195 pounds, Josh Tobitt scored a pin fall win over Branson Boone of Oakland in 2:22. Joel Lawrence also scored a pin at 152 pounds as he beat Noland Cook. Rein Bozich got a 5 to 3 decision win over Jerdan Cina at 138 pounds to round out the scoring for Coffee County.
Against Page, Coffee County scored a pair of pin fall wins to earn 12 points. At 132 pounds, Robert Brandon scored a pin fall at 3:30 over Laz Bibeau. Dustin Seals got the other win as he pinned Dayton Davis in 2:34. The Raider grapplers return to the mat on Saturday when they travel to Mt. Juliet for the Mt. Juliet Duals Meet.

Westwood Lady Rocket Ashley Starks

A full house, and a Thunder Radio listening audience, were treated to a Westwood sweep on Thursday night as the Rockets and Lady Rockets tamed the Tigers of Fayetteville Middle. The Lady Rockets scored the first 10 points of the game on their way to a 44 to 10 win on Teddy Bear Toss Night. The win lifts the Lady Rockets season record to 14 and 2 on the year. Westwood built a 41 to 8 lead after 3 periods of play as Coach Angela Houck was able to rest her starters for most of the 2nd half. Despite not playing in the 4th quarter, Ashley Starks led the Lady Rockets in scoring with 17 points and was named the Gateway Tire and Service Center Player of the Game. Karen Medina netted 9 and Morgan Jones finished with 6 points.

Jake Hollandsworth of Westwood basketball

The Rockets got 10 first half steals on their way to a 46 to 18 mauling of Fayetteville. The visiting Tigers had no answer for the help defense of the Rockets as they were held scoreless in the 3rd quarter. Jake Hollandsworth poured in 9 of his team high 13 points in the 2nd quarter on his way to being named the Gateway Tire and Service Center Player of the Game. Roderic Brinkley led Westwood in rebounds and finished with 10 points and Collin Ward netted 8 for the Rockets. Westwood returns home on Monday night as they host Eagleville on 8th Grade Night. The girls’ game will tip off at 6.

At halftime of the boys’ game, the annual Teddy Bear Toss event saw 125 stuffed animals collected for the Manchester Police and Fire Departments. The donated toys were tossed into the middle of the court and the closest toss to the middle won a gift basket totaling more than $75 in gifts and prizes. The donated animals will be used by the departments as “comfort animals” to be given to children when they are impacted by a fire, car crash, or other tragic event.

A portion of the donated stuffed animals collected on Thursday night in the Westwood Middle School Teddy Bear Toss

Julia Duncan of CCMS Basketball

It was a tale of 2 periods for the Coffee County Middle School Lady Raider basketball team at home on Thursday night as they eased past Harris 36 to 31. After racing out to an 18 to 0 lead after the first period, the Lady Raiders saw the Lady Eagles outscore Coffee County 17 to 3 in the 2nd quarter to set up an exciting second half. The Lady Raiders were able to hit 9 of 17 free throws in the 2nd half to stay unbeaten after the hard fought win. Julia Duncan was the leading scorer for Coffee County as she finished with 15 points. Keelie Hillis ended the night with 7 points as the Lady Raiders are now 8 & 0 on the season.

Brandon Jernigan of CCMS basketball

The Red Raiders saw Harris jump out to a halftime lead of 33 to 9 in the boys game as they fell by a final score of 60 to 26. The talented Eagles team scored in double digits in all 4 quarters to drop Coffee County to 3 and 5 on the season. Brandon Jernigan led Coffee County in scoring as he netted 8 points. Kyle Farless and Blanton Brown each finished the night with 5. Coffee County will travel to Cowan on Monday night for a crucial conference matchup with South Franklin. The girls’ game will get underway at 6 PM.

Pete Weber’s Postgame Report

Goaltender Roberto Luongo made 32 saves to help the Florida Panthers defeat the Nashville Predators 2-1 at Bridgestone Arena on Thursday.

The Panthers (12-9-4) have won four consecutive games, including three straight on the road, where they are 6-4-2.

“You want to get on a bit of a roll and get some points,” Luongo said. “I think, especially this road trip, we’ve had some tough tests and we’ve played some good hockey as a team. We’ve won some gritty road games. That’s the type of hockey when we play here, and that’s the way we win.”

Florida blocked 21 Nashville shots.

“We’ve done a good job I think as far as our systems the last few games,” Luongo said. “We’re really not giving up any breakaways or 2-on-1s, stuff that we were seeing a little bit a few weeks ago. When we do that, it gives ourselves a chance. Even if they get a 3-on-2 or 4-on-3, it’s a bit different than a 2-on-1 and stuff like that. Guys have been working hard and blocking shots and stuff like that. That’s what it takes to win hockey games. You’ve got to pay the price for your team, and we’re doing that right now.”

Nashville goaltender Pekka Rinne made 14 saves. The Predators (13-8-4) are 8-3-2 at home and 2-5-1 in their past eight games.

Quinton Howden gave the Panthers a 1-0 lead at 14:59 of the first period on a wrist shot from the slot. The puck caromed strangely off the boards, which allowed Howden to get around Predators defenseman Mattias Ekholm and shoot it past Rinne for his third goal.

“I think I got a fortunate bounce,” Howden said. “It hit a stanchion, and the [defenseman] kind of turned the wrong way on it. Lucky bounce, but I made sure I connected.”

Jonathan Huberdeau gave the Panthers a 2-0 lead at 11:24 of the second period on a power play. Huberdeau set up in the slot and one-timed a pass from forward Aleksander Barkov past Rinne for his second goal.

“It felt good, but especially with a win like that,” Huberdeau said. “We won a close game. In the third, they were all over us I think. [Luongo] made some big saves. It’s two points that you need to have, and I’m fortunate that I could help the team.”

The Predators have killed 57.9 percent of penalties in the past seven games.

“Tonight I think we could’ve been in better position,” Nashville coach Peter Laviolette said. “We ran out of position a little bit, and we got caught in front of the net. The penalty kill is moving around. It’s never just one thing. Sometimes it’s your pressure, sometimes it’s coverage. It’s different things.”

Nashville defenseman Roman Josi scored to make it 2-1 at 17:46 of the second period. Forward Craig Smith took a shot on the rush, and the puck bounced off Josi past Luongo for his fifth goal.

The Predators had a chance to tie the game late in the third period on a shot by forward Cody Hodgson, but the puck went off the crossbar and kicked away from the goal line, which was confirmed by video review after play was stopped.

“I wasn’t sure [if the puck was in],” Luongo said. “I didn’t feel like it was in, and then I looked at a couple of our guys and they were saying that it wouldn’t go. We got a bit unlucky on the first goal, but got lucky there at the end, so we’ll take it.”

Nashville forward Mike Fisher missed the game with a lower-body injury and will be out at least the next three games. Forward Calle Jarnkrok filled Fisher’s role on the second line.

“We certainly miss [Fisher],” Laviolette said. “He’s a big part of our team from on-ice and in the locker room, but with that there’s the old cliché that there’s always opportunity for somebody else to make the most of it. This is a great spot for [Jarnkrok]. He’s been in a position where he’s, I think, watched and learned and has gained some experience over the last year-plus. Now he’s in a position where he actually gets to take down the minutes on the power play and the big faceoffs. To this point, he’s done a really nice job.”

Nashville plays at the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday in a 6 PM contest.  Thunder Radio will have that broadcast as part of the Fifth Third Bank/Nashville Predators Radio Network.