Category: Sports

Coffee County’s Red Raider basketball team trailed Tullahoma at the end of every single quarter Tuesday night.

Except the one that matters most.

Trailing 38-32, the CHS Raiders outscored visiting Tullahoma 22-9 in the fourth quarter to pick up a 54-45 District 8-AAA win over their biggest rivals.

The Raiders took their first lead of the second half at 45-43 and then again at 47-45.

Coffee County pulled away late behind strong free throws, including six straight – two from CJ Anthony and four in a row from junior Connor Shemwell.

Senior Jaxon Vaughn paced Coffee County, picking up 16 tough points in the paint and at the free throw line. Vaughn scored 10 of his 16 in the second half. Trenton Scrivnor scored 14 for the Raiders off the bench, including a pair of rebounds and put backs.

Scrivnor and Vaughn were named Stone Fort Mortgage co-players of the game for Coffee County.

Connor Shemwell scored 11 for the Raiders, including big free throws down the stretch. Hayden Hullett finished with 6 points, Anthony 4, Farless 2 and Brady Nugent 1.

The win is the third straight for the Raiders and makes them 4-2 in District 8-AAA play. The loss snaps a six game Wildcat winning streak and is their first District 8-AAA loss of the season, making them 5-1.

Coffee County will host Columbia Friday night. The Lady Raiders tip at 6 p.m. and the boys to follow. You can hear both games on Thunder Radio – 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, 106.7 FM, Manchester Go smartphone app and thunder1320.com. Pregame begins at 5:45 pm.

The sixth ranked team in the state of Tennessee played like it Tuesday night.

Coffee County’s Lady raiders dominated Tullahoma from the onset, giving the Tullahoma Lady Wildcats a steady dose of Bella Vinson in the paint for a 63-42 win at Joe Frank Patch Memorial Gymnasium in Manchester.

“We had some new offensive sets in tonight and the girls executed them as well as I could have asked,” said CHS head coach Joe Pat Cope.

Coffee County went to its senior leader early and often. Vinson finished with a game-high 29 points. She buried a pair of 3-pionters, but the majority of the work Vinson did came in the paint and at the free-throw line as Coffee County made ways to get her the ball in the post.

To keep Tullahoma from dropping everyone in the paint to stop Vinson, sophomore guard Jalie Rueling showed off from the arc, nailing three 3-pointers to finish with 11 points.

“I am shooting the ball with more confidence right now,” said Rueling.

Sophomore post Chloe Gannon helped out in the post, as well, with 11 points on the night.

Alivia Reel and Elli Chumley each added six points for Coffee County.

CHS led 31-20 at the half and 50-32 after three quarters.

The win improves the Lady Raiders to 17-1 on the season and a perfect 6-0 in District 8-AAA play. They are ranked no. 6 in the state of Tennessee by the Associated Press.

CHS will host Columbia at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 22. You can listen to that game live on Thunder Radio: 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, 106.7 FM, Manchester Go app, thunder1320.com

Governor Bill Lee has announced this his executive order limiting indoor gatherings has been extended with some modifications as it pertains to winter sports in Tennessee.

Fans have been limited to immediate, household family members since mid-December. That was set to expire at midnight Jan. 19, but it has been extended through Feb. 27, which will limit attendance at high school and middle school basketball, wrestling and swimming.

However, TSSAA has stated that understands that “immediate household” will now include grandparents of children who are playing. Also, school staff and faculty will be allowed to attend games and events.

As has been the case since the fall, masks are required for entry to athletic events and temperatures are taken at the gate. Coffee County athletics is accepting season passes, TSSAA passes and TACA cards at the gate. As more information is available, it will be posted here.

Jaden Talley first picked up a tennis racket in seventh grade just to have something to do.

Now he will be playing at the collegiate level.

Talley signed on Friday, Jan. 15, to play collegiate tennis for Johnson University in Knoxville, Tennessee.

“I started getting serious going into my sophomore year,” said Talley, who said a friend talked him into trying out in seventh grade.

Following his eighth grade year, Talley started attending camps and taking the game more seriously. After his sophomore year, he realized it was something he was pretty good at.

He said he chose Johnson University because he can develop as a person and help the team win.

He plans  major in sports and fitness leadership.

Listen to our interview with Jaden here:

Rockvale High School (RKV) 46.0 Coffee County (COFF) 36.0

132: Payton Ashburn (RKV) over   (COFF) (For.) 138: Caleb Boothe (COFF) over Nathaniel Breeding (RKV) (Fall 5:13) 145: Jacob Barlow (COFF) over Gonzolo Comaschi (RKV) (Fall 0:28) 152: Gavin Prater (COFF) over   (RKV) (For.) 160: Nazario Flores (COFF) over   (RKV) (For.) 170: Nathan Weinrauch (RKV) over Chris Hollis (COFF) (Fall 0:38) 182: Andrew Weinrauch (RKV) over   (COFF) (For.) 195: Zachary Galy (COFF) over Connor Hedges (RKV) (Fall 1:19) 220: Andrew Blackburn (RKV) over   (COFF) (For.) 285: Blayne Myers (COFF) over Makhai Minor (RKV) (Fall 2:45) 106: Jerell Johnson (RKV) over   (COFF) (For.) 113: Logan Saller (RKV) over Thomas Clark (COFF) (MD 15-7) 120: Lance Miles (RKV) over   (COFF) (For.) 126: Parker Sparks (RKV) over   (COFF) (For.)

Stewarts Creek (STCR) 36.0 Coffee County (COFF) 28.0

113: George Esquivel (STCR) over Thomas Clark (COFF) (Fall 2:49) 120: Double Forfeit 126: Jacob Jones (STCR) over   (COFF) (For.) 132: Tyler South (STCR) over   (COFF) (For.) 138: Caleb Boothe (COFF) over Mason Moss (STCR) (Fall 0:42) 145: Jacob Barlow (COFF) over Silas Teat (STCR) (MD 9-0) 152: Gavin Prater (COFF) over Jackson Boling (STCR) (Fall 1:21) 160: Caleb Liko (STCR) over Chris Hollis (COFF) (Fall 0:23) 170: William Wilson (STCR) over   (COFF) (For.) 182: Nicholas Menticino (STCR) over   (COFF) (For.) 220: Zachary Galy (COFF) over Saul Angulo (STCR) (Fall 1:47) 285: Blayne Myers (COFF) over Jaxon Spivey (STCR) (Fall 2:52) 106: Double Forfeit

Smyrna (SMYR) 30.0 Coffee County (COFF) 30.0

106: Double Forfeit 113: Thomas Clark (COFF) over   (SMYR) (For.) 120: Double Forfeit 126: Joel Denton (SMYR) over   (COFF) (For.) 132: Matthew Rogers (SMYR) over   (COFF) (For.) 138: Day Day Htoo (SMYR) over Caleb Boothe (COFF) (Fall 1:37) 145: Jacob Barlow (COFF) over Luis Sanchez-Garcia (SMYR) (Fall 0:49) 152: Gavin Prater (COFF) over Eric Tucker (SMYR) (Fall 1:06) 160: Say Aye (SMYR) over Chris Hollis (COFF) (Fall 0:23) 170: Jose Cordova (SMYR) over   (COFF) (For.) 182: Double Forfeit 195: Zachary Galy (COFF) over Larry Lockett III (SMYR) (Fall 0:36) 220: Double Forfeit 285: Blayne Myers (COFF) over Joshua Cordova (SMYR) (Fall 1:27)

Warren Co. (WACO) 34.0 Coffee County (COFF) 21.0

145: Jacob Barlow (COFF) over Alec Smith (WACO) (Dec 8-4) 152: Gavin Prater (COFF) over Stephen Curtis (WACO) (Fall 2:51) 160: Kalah Lusk (WACO) over Nazario Flores (COFF) (Fall 3:49) 170: Chris Hollis (COFF) over   (WACO) (For.) 182: Double Forfeit 195: Zachary Galy (COFF) over Issac Gillentine (WACO) (DQ) 220: Double Forfeit 285: Timothy Jerrigan (WACO) over Blayne Myers (COFF) (Fall 3:16) 106: Double Forfeit 113: Sabastien Smith (WACO) over Thomas Clark (COFF) (MD 14-6) 120: Caleb Mackie (WACO) over   (COFF) (For.) 126: Double Forfeit 132: Seth Lindsay (WACO) over   (COFF) (For.) 138: Alan Esparza (WACO) over Caleb Boothe (COFF) (Fall 2:27)

Warren Co. (WACO) 49.0 Coffee County (COFF) 7.0

285: Timothy Jerrigan (WACO) over Blayne Myers (COFF) (MD 14-1) 106: Sabastien Smith (WACO) over   (COFF) (For.) 113: Roberto Dodson (WACO) over Thomas Clark (COFF) (Fall 5:00) 120: Caleb Mackie (WACO) over   (COFF) (For.) 126: Double Forfeit 132: Seth Lindsay (WACO) over   (COFF) (For.) 138: Alan Esparza (WACO) over Caleb Boothe (COFF) (Fall 4:45) 145: Jacob Barlow (COFF) over Alec Smith (WACO) (Dec 3-0) 152: Stephen Curtis (WACO) over Gavin Prater (COFF) (Dec 4-2) 160: Kalah Lusk (WACO) over Chris Hollis (COFF) (Fall 1:00) 170: Double Forfeit 182: Conner Smith (WACO) over   (COFF) (For.) 195: Zachary Galy (COFF) over Daniel  Wright (WACO) (MD 12-2) 220: Double Forfeit

It wasn’t easy, but Coffee Middle School’s Lady Raider basketball team put the finishing touches on a perfect conference season Saturday in Shelbyville.

Coffee County picked up 11 points each from Olivia Vinson and Channah Gannon and hit enough free throws late to hang on and beat White County Middle School 35-30 in the CTC Championship game at Harris Middle School.

Coffee County led by one with less than a minute to play when seventh grader Natalie Barnes stepped up to the free throw line and buried a pair of shots to push the CMS lead to 33-30. Barnes finished with 6 points.

Coffee County missed four consecutive free throws after that to give White County two possessions with a chance to tie the game, but the Lady Raider defense stepped up and didn’t allow another point. Vinson buried a pair of free throws with 1.6 seconds to play to ice the game.

Sophie McInturff added seven points to the Lady Raider offense.

The win improves the Lady Raiders to 14-1 on the season and caps a perfect conference record. The lone loss on the season came back on Nov. 19 to Lipscomb Academy.

The Lady Raiders move on to the Region Tournament, which will be held in two weeks.

All conference

After such a dominating conference season, all five Lady Raider starters were name to the CTC All-Conference Team: Olivia Vinson, Natalie Barnes, Channah Gannon, Ava McIntosh and Sophie McInturff.  

The Lady Raiders will be guests on The Coffee Coaches show next Saturday, Jan. 23. The show airs weekly on Thunder Radio from 10-11 a.m. at Al White Ford Lincoln

It was ugly. But the ending is the only thing that matters. And it ended in a “W.”

The Coffee County Central High School Lady Raiders were ice cold from the field and trailed at the end of the first three quarters, but pulled ahead late in 45-41 road District 8-AAA win over Lincoln County Friday night.

“[Lincoln County] did their homework, knew how to defend us,” said Lady Raider head coach Joe Pat Cope in his postgame interview with Thunder Radio. “We were shooting in the first half, we just weren’t hitting anything.”

It was by far Coffee County’s coldest start of the season. The Lady Raiders trailed 10-3 at the end of the first quarter.

But Lady Raider Emma Fulks jump started the offense, ripping off three 3-pointers in the first half to loosen up the Lincoln County defense.

Fulks’ hot shooting loosened up the paint just enough for sophomore post Chloe Gannon in the second half – Gannon scored all 10 of her points in the final two periods in the paint and the free-throw line.

“We really rode Chloe late and she came through,” added Cope.

Lincoln County led by as many as 6 with 4:50 to play, but Coffee County went on a 7-1 run and tied the game at 37-37 on a breakaway layup from senior Bella Vinson.

Elli Chumley drained an 18-foot jumper put the Lady Raiders in front 39-37 and Coffee County didn’t look back from there. Vinson drained 6 consecutive free throws to close out the game for Coffee County. Vinson finished with 10 points.

Chumley and Fulks each finished with 9 points, Jalie Ruehling 4 and Alivia Reel 3.

The win improves Coffee County to 16-1 and keeps a perfect 5-0 district record. The Lady Raiders will host Tullahoma at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19. You can listen to that game live on Thunder Radio: 107.9 FM, 106.7 FM, 1320 AM streaming on the Manchester Go smartphone app and at thunder1320.com.

Defense has been the name of the game for the Central High School Red Raider basketball team over their past two outings. And, it’s no coincidence, they have won them both.

The CHS Red Raiders took their defensive show on the road Friday night and their free-throw shooting, too, sinking 22-of-26 free throws (85%) to beat the Lincoln County Falcons 64-49 in Fayetteville.

The win puts the Raiders over .500 in district play and overall. The Raiders are now 7-6 with a 3-2 district record.

The Raiders led 22-19 at the half and finally started to create some distance late in the third quarter. After the game was tied 30-30, the Raiders took off on a 14-0 run, including a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from Connor Shemwell to give the Raiders a 39-30 lead after three quarters. Shemwell finished with 8 points for the Raiders.

Raider senior Trenton Scrivnor gave the Falcons fits with his size and athleticism inside, scoring 14 points off the bench for Coffee County. Senior Kyle Farless finished with 12 points, Jaxon Vaughn 10, CJ Anthony 8, Brady Nugent 5, Tyler Taylor 4 and Hayden Hullett 2. Hullett also sacrificed his body, drawing a pair of charges on defense.

The Raiders will host Tullahoma Tuesday, Jan. 19 at Joe Frank Patch Memorial Gymnasium. Girls game tips at 6 p.m. with the boys to follow at approximately 7:30. You can listen to both games live on Thunder Radio: 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, 106.7 FM, Manchester Go app and thunder1320.com

Defense was the name of game for the Central High School Red Raiders Thursday night in Manchester.

Coffee County held Franklin County to just 2 points in the opening period and 9 for the entire first half in a 54-33 District 8-AAA win Thursday night at Joe Frank Patch Memorial Gymnasium – a game you heard live on Thunder Radio.

The win was much needed for the Raiders – evening their record to 6-6 on the season and 2-2 in district play.

While it was the defensive effort that led to the win, the Raiders spread around offensive production. Ten different Raiders scored points and only one was in double-figures.

Senior Jaxon Vaughn paced the Coffee County offense with 12 points – 8 of those coming in the second half. Junior forward Connor Shemwell finished with 9 points, 6 coming in the second half.

Kyle Farless and Trenton Scrivnor led the way early. Farless scored 7 in the first half and Scrivnor scored 6 of his 7 in the first half to put the Raiders up 28-9 at the halftime break.

Also scoring for Coffee County were: Hayden Hullett and CJ Anthony with six points apiece, Brady Nugent with 2, Jahlin Osborne 2 and Aidan Abellana 1.

Taylor Stovall led the Rebels in points with 7.

The Raiders will travel to Fayetteville Friday night to take on the Falcons of Lincoln County. You can hear that game live on Thunder Radio. The Lady Raiders will tip at 6 p.m. with the Raiders to follow. Listen on 107.9 FM, 1320 AM, 106.7 FM, on the Manchester Go smartphone app, thunder1320.com or watch the Raider TV feed through the Thunder Radio Facebook page.

Coffee Middle School’s Lady Raiders got off to a sluggish start by their standards Thursday … they only led by 7 at the end of the first quarter.

But it wasn’t close after that. Olivia Vinson dropped 10 points in the second quarter to go along with 5 each from Ava McIntosh and Natalie Barnes as the Lady Raiders dropped South Franklin 55-13 in the semi-finals of the CTC Tournament in Shelbyville.

The win keeps the Lady Raiders perfect CTC record intact and advances them to the CTC Championship game at noon Saturday at Harris Middle School. That game will be broadcast LIVE on Thunder Radio.

Vinson went on to finish with 18 points to lead the way for CMS Thursday night.

Lady Raider Sophie McInturff dropped in 8 points, powered by a pair of 3-pointers. Channah Gannon scored 8 on a perfect 8-of-8 performance at the free-throw line in the first half, and Ella Arnold sunk a pair of 3-pointers and two free throws in the fourth quarter to finish with 8 points.

McIntosh scored 7 for the Lady Raiders, Barnes 5, and Peyton Graham 3.