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Bella Vinson inks basketball scholarship with Lipscomb
A recruiting process that began as early as the 8th grade for Bella Vinson officially ended with the stroke of her pen Wednesday afternoon.
Vinson, a standout four-year starter for the Central High School Lady Raider basketball team, signed her collegiate letter of intent to play basketball for the Lipscomb Bisons Wednesday afternoon (Nov. 11, 2020) in the CHS library with friends, coaches and family in attendance.
“Not many people get the opportunity to go through [the recruiting process],” explained Vinson. “I’ve been going through that since about the 8th grade. It’s been really exciting, really awesome and really a once in a lifetime thing.”
Vinson went on to say that she chose Lipscomb out of several other offers because it “checked everything off her list.” See her full comments about Lipscomb here:
Bella said she is excited to have the process behind her and be able to focus on her senior year of basketball at Coffee County.
The Lady Raiders open the season on Friday, Nov. 20 at home when Siegel comes to town for a TSSAA Hall of Champions game. Tip is at 6 p.m. and that game will be broadcast live on Thunder Radio. You can hear the Lady Raiders all season long on Thunder Radio (107.9 FM, 1320 AM, Manchester Go smartphone app, thunder1320.com, Amazon Alexa smart “device >>”Alexa, play Thunder Radio”).
CMS basketball reschedules Thursday games
Coffee County Middle School’s basketball teams have had to do more juggling to their schedules due to COVID-19 issues and restrictions.
The undefeated CMS Lady Raiders were set to host West Tullahoma Thursday (Nov. 12) in a girls-only contest. That game has now been rescheduled for Jan. 5, when both boys and girls teams will play host to West Tullahoma. The boys game had already been rescheduled due to COVID-19. Tip for the girls game is set for 6 p.m. and the boys to follow.
Also, next Monday’s home game with Warren County has been moved to Dec. 8, when both boys and girls teams will play. The next home game for both teams will be on Thursday, Nov. 19 when they welcome East Tullahoma to Manchester. Tip is set for 6 p.m. and you can hear both games live on Thunder Radio as part of the Mid Tenn Turf Hometown Sports Series. Listen live on 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, on the Manchester Go smartphone app, thunder1320.com and on Amazon Alexa devices > “Alexa, play Thunder Radio.”
Westwood falls to Eagleville; Rockets to host Cannon County Thursday night
Westwood’s Rockets and Lady Rockets basketball teams each suffered tough losses to Eagleville on Tuesday night – both in very different ways.
On the girls side, the Lady Rockets simply couldn’t get into any rhythm and fell 45-15. Jules Ferrell finished the night with 6 points, Audri Patton 5 and Rylee Clark added 4. Even the JV Lady Rockets fell on hard times, losing by 1 in overtime.
Meanwhile, while the boys were able to keep the score close, the Rockets came on the losing end of a 38-33 decision to the Eagles.
The Rockets rallied in the fourth quarter and outscored the Eagles 13-8 but ran out of time to complete the comeback.
Westwood was led in points by Jaden Carter with 10. Caiden Warren added 7, Blake Hillis 6, Lane Fann 3, Jaiden Warren 2 and Skylar Stinson 2.
Both the Rockets and Lady Rockets will be at home Thursday night for a 6 p.m. tip against Cannon County. You can listen to both of those games live on Thunder Radio as part of the Mid Tenn Turf Hometown Sports Series. Tune in to the game at 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, on the Manchester Go smartphone app, thunder1320.com or on your Amazon Alexa > “Alexa, play Thunder Radio.”
Local citizens recognize four more MPD officers
Local businessman Jay Kalvala and Manchester resident Gene Holmes have paired up to work on a project to show support for law enforcement officers at Manchester Police Department.
They began this project in September, and this month were able to recognize four more officers. The officers were: Assistant Chief Adam Floied, Captain Nilesh Patel, Sergeant Landon Pence and the late Captain Chris Patterson, who recently passed away.
Captain Patterson’s family was in attendance to receive his letter and gift cards.
Mr. Kalvala and Mr. Holmes stated they intend to continue this project until every officer is recognized.
Free flu shots available in Coffee County Nov. 19
With so much focus on COVID-19 – it’s important to remember we are entering the season or another highly contagious virus – the flu.
There will be free flu shots administered through local health departments in Tennessee between 12:30-3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 19.
In Coffee County, anyone can go and receive the free flu shot. The health department will be administering those shots at the Coffee County Fairgrounds – 99 Lakeview Dr. in Manchester.
REMINDER: Mobile food pantry is Friday for local students and families
Coffee County Schools and Manchester City Schools in partnership with First Baptist Church are hosting a Mobile Food Pantry on Friday, November 13th. This event will be held at First Baptist Church of Manchester (1006 Hillsboro Blvd). The drive thru event starts at 9am and is a first come, first serve opportunity. This program is for families who have a student enrolled in Coffee County Schools or Manchester City Schools.
For questions, contact Carrie Davis, Coordinator of Family Resource Center for Coffee County Schools at (931) 222-1066 or BJ Sylvia, Coordinator of Family Resource Center for Manchester City Schools at (931) 728-3412.
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL: Big expectations for Lady Raiders, Red Raiders coming out of district media days
With the start of the season a little more than a week away, Coffee County Central’s Lady Raider and Red Raider basketball teams participated in District 8-AAA media day Tuesday in Winchester.
Both teams are defending back-to-back regular season District 8-AAA championships.
The Lady Raiders have won 24 consecutive regular season district games and will rely heavily on senior Bella Vinson – who will sign to play collegiate basketball at Lipscomb on Wednesday. CHS head coach Joe Pat Cope had this to say about Bella’s leadership:
Cope went on to say that Coffee County is working on building depth – with only seven girls currently in the rotation for regular playing time. Look for junior Elli Chumley, sophomore Jalie Ruehling and sophomore Chloe Gannon to contribute heavily for the Lady Raiders.
The Lady Raiders open the season with a TSSAA Hall of Champions game Friday, Nov. 20 when they host Siegel at Joe Frank Patch Memorial Gymnasium in Manchester. Tip off is set for 6 p.m. and Thunder Radio will be there to bring you the broadcast.
Raider boys are senior-laden
On the boys side – the Red Raiders return four starters from last year’s team that won the District 8-AAA regular season championship.
CHS head coach Micah Williams, who is entering his sixth season, had this to say about his senior class:
The Raiders faltered in the postseason last year, finishing fourth in the district tournament and losing in the region tournament on the road. Williams said the goal has been to beef up the non-district schedule and build more bench depth to be prepared for the postseason.
Coffee County’s Red Raiders open the season Thursday, Nov. 19 at home against Knowledge Academy in a TSSAA Hall of Champions game. Tip is set for 6 p.m. and Thunder Radio will be there to bring you the broadcast.
ELEMENTARY BASKETBALL RESULTS
Elementary Results from Saturday, Nov. 7
Boys
North Coffee – 26
Hillsboro – 23
NC scorers:
August Lynch – 4 points
Ethan Arnold – 18 points
Logan Johnson – 2 points
Hyatt Moss – 2 points
Hillsboro scorers:
Michael Hasty – 10 points
Lane Sheppard – 9 points
Kortland Grosch – 3 points
East Coffee – 14
College Street – 12
EC scorers
Ryan Bower – 2 points
Ethan Reed – 4 points
Kameron Stafford – 7 points
Chase Stancill – 1 point
CS scorers
Mario Gonzalez – 2 points
Greyson Goff – 2 points
Trey Sullivan – 2 points
Jackson Burchell – 2 points
Kaydan Morris – 4 points
New Union – 31
Westwood – 16
NU scorers
Audie Nicoll – 25
Tanner Daugherty – 3
Mason Hastings – 3
WW scorers
Zeke Jones – 5
Brady Christian – 4
Jarrod Morgan – 3
Isaiah Buchanan – 4
Hickerson – 14
Deerfield – 2
Hickerson scorers
Corontez Garrett – 4
Ezekiel Gandarilla – 2
Gabriel Bonner- 2
Blaine Bonner – 4
Ayce Tessaro – 2
Deerfield scorers
Keyton Childress – 2
GIRLS
New Union – 24
Westwood – 3
NU scorers
Hayleigh Harris – 14
Jenslee Nogodula – 4
Brylyn McAdams – 2
Channing Gannon – 2
Elizabeth Acevedo – 2
WW scorers
Maisy Hubbard – 1 point
Kylie Evans – 2 points
North Coffee – 24
Hillsboro – 0
NC scorers
Adalyn Clark – 8
Sierra Starr – 8
Blaine Weaver – 4
Alexis Good – 4
CHS to broadcast virtual Veterans Day ceremony Wednesday
Wednesday, Nov. 11 is Veterans Day.
Due to COVID-19 concerns and restrictions, many area schools are not holding their normal Veterans Day ceremonies that are usually held each year.
Coffee County Central High School normally holds a large ceremony each year. And while that ceremony will not happen in the gymnasium this year, there will be a virtual ceremony to recognize and honor local veterans. This will take place at approximately 11:20 a.m. Wednesday and you can watch it on the Thunder Radio Facebook page. You can also watch on the Raider TV Youtube Channel.
Tullahoma Christmas parade to be week after Manchester
Tullahoma Chamber of Commerce has announced that Tullahoma will continue with its planned Christmas Parade this year.
The Tullahoma Parade will be at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 4. This year’s theme will be A Candyland Christmas.
Anyone wanting to register a float or group should visit www.tullahoma.org.
Meanwhile, the Manchester Christmas Parade (themed Childhood Dreams of Christmas) will be the week before Tullahoma’s at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28.
If you plan to enter the Manchester parade, deadline is Nov. 20. Pick up applications at the Manchester Recreation Center at 557 N. Woodland St.