Category: Sports

The Coffee County cross country teams headed to Lebanon on Thursday to compete in the TSSAA Regional Cross Country Meet.  With state berths on the line, the Raider harriers had some strong performances but failed to earn a state qualifying berth.  As a team, the Red Raiders finished in 8^th place out of 16 teams.  The Lady Raiders came in 9^th place out of 12 teams. 

For the Red Raiders, Jacob Rutledge was the top finisher as he ran a time of 17:25.38 to finish in 15^th place.  Garrett Masters was 41^st with a time of 19:13.86 and Ethan Welch finished in 56^th at 20:07.08.  Other Raider runners were Jacob Slabaugh(20:21.92), Jacob Melton(20:36.23), Christian Alvarez(20:59.20) and Bodey Todd(23:12.96).

For the Lady Raiders, Madison Rooker was the top finisher as she covered the 5K course in a time of 23:44.15 to finish in 43^rd place.  Patricia Barrera was right on her heels in 44^th place with a time of 23:46.36 while Nayeli Cano was 48^th in a time of 24:10.75.  Zoe Mills ran a time of 24:57.51 and Haley Sherrill posted a time of 27:34.81.

For the JV Raiders, Holden Shew had the top time of 21:02.69 and Aiden Dubler ran a 22:33.95.

The Coffee County freshman football team traveled to McMinnville on Thursday night for a game against the freshmen and JV of Warren County.  In a game originally scheduled for the 14^th, Coffee County was looking to avenge a loss from September in Manchester.   An injury–riddled Raider squad was held scoreless as Coffee County lost 18 to 0.

Warren County got their first score with 5:11 left in the 1^st quarter to take a 6 to 0 lead.  The Pioneers added another touchdown with 4 minutes remaining in the half to take a 12 to 0 lead into halftime.  Warren County added the 3^rd goal in the 3^rd quarter to sweep the Raiders in the season series. 

The Coffee County freshmen will end their season on Tuesday as they travel to Tullahoma to take on Riverdale in the Tullahoma Lions Bowl.  Kick-off is set for 6 PM at Wilkins Stadium. 

Thursday Prep Schedule
9:00 AM – CHS Cross Country in TSSAA Region Championship at Cedars of Lebanon
5:00 PM – WMS Basketball vs. Centertown(Girls at 5, Boys at 7) – Ruritan Preseason Tournament at Morrison
6:00 PM – CCMS Basketball(6th Grade) vs. North Franklin at Franklin Co HS
6:00 PM – CHS Football(Fresh) at Warren County

1st National Bank and Thunder Radio will once again combine forces this fall and winter to continue to highlight more and more local athletes. The highly acclaimed 1st National Bank Hometown Sports Series returns for its 4th season of middle school basketball coverage.  Thunder Radio and First National Bank will bring you a series of 10 Westwood Middle School and Coffee County Middle School basketball games beginning on Monday, October 28th and continuing into January.  We also hope to add games from the respective postseason tournaments for each school. 

Thunder Radio’s Josh Peterson and Dennis Weaver will combine forces to provide unparalleled coverage for middle school basketball.   We take our responsibility seriously to provide exclusive coverage of our Manchester area youth and bringing you live play-by-play action is a part of our celebration of the local teams.  The tentative schedule is as follows:

The Coffee County freshman football team has accepted an invitation to compete in the 54th Annual Semmes-McKenzie Lions Bowl in Tullahoma on Tuesday, October 29^th.  The Red Raiders will square off against the freshman team from Riverdale in a game that will begin at 6 PM.  In the second game, the Murfreesboro Oakland Patriots face off against the Franklin County Rebels in a game set to start at 8 PM. 

The Lions Bowl originated in 1965 and was sponsored by the Tullahoma Civic and Service Council.  Sleepy McKenzie was one of the bowl’s originators and continued leading the bowl team through 2006.  Bill Comer has been the bowl chairman from 2006 to the present.   

During the early years, there were no TSSAA playoffs, and the bowls were the only post-season rewards for teams with outstanding records.  The Tullahoma Lions Club became the sole sponsor of the game in 1970.  After the playoff system was implemented, the bowls continued to operate successfully since only the top teams in a district participate in the playoffs, leaving ample teams with 7 or more wins (the TSSAA requirement at that time) to fill the bowl slots.  Eventually, the TSSAA increased participation in the playoffs to the point that only a few teams across the state were available for the bowls.   Clester Winningham, Tullahoma freshmen football coach at the time, suggested that the Lions Bowl format be changed to feature freshmen teams.  This was done in 1997 and was highly successful.  Today, the bowl is widely recognized across the mid-state area as an effective and meaningful reward for high school freshmen football teams.

In June of 2011, The Tullahoma Lions Bowl was renamed the Semmes-McKenzie Lions Bowl.  This was done in memory of Dr. Frank Semmes who almost single-handily produced the Lions Bowl printed program from the time the Lions Club assumed sponsorship until his death in early 2011, and James “Sleepy” McKenzie who was one of the original founders of the bowl and chaired the bowl from its inception until 2006.

Proceeds from the game received by the Tullahoma Lions Club are used to support the club’s Sight Conservation Program which purchases eyeglasses and provides surgery for needy citizens of the local area.  The participating schools keep funds from their sale of advanced tickets.

Members of the bowl committee for 2019 are: Bill Comer, chairman; Woody Reasonover, team selection; Carl Webster facilities coordination; Sally Hoehl program; Don Jones, concessions; J. Ray Joellenbeck, tickets; Bob Johnson, press box; Richard Kulp, DVD sales; and Jasper Smith and Tom Redman, gates. Carl Webster is the current president of the Tullahoma Lions Club.

The Coffee County Lady Raider soccer season came to a close on Tuesday night in the semifinal round of the Region 4AAA Tournament.  Taking on District 7AAA champion Siegel on their home pitch, Coffee County neutralized strong scoring attack of the Lady Stars for 50 minutes before falling by a final score of 3 to 0.

Siegel got on the board first in the 14^th minute as they converted a penalty kick that was awarded due to a handball in the box on the Lady Raiders.  That score by Emily Sanchez was the only tally in the first half as Coffee County trailed 1 nil at intermission.  In the second half, Sanchez got free on a run through the weak side of the Lady Raider defensive formation and beat a phenomenal effort from Lady Raider keeper Lucy Riddle to make the score 2 to 0.  Kendra Baptiste added the 3^rd goal in the 58^th minute to put the decision on ice.

Coffee County was out shot 11 to 9 in the match.  Maddy Jones led Coffee County in shots with 3.  Katie Cotten and Jenna Garretson each added 2 shots.  Riddle finished the match with 8 saves.  .  The Lady Raiders will finish the season with a regular season district title and a final record of 11-5-2. 

Download the broadcast at: www.Thunder1320.com/downloads

The Westwood Middle School basketball season tipped off on Tuesday in the Morrison Ruritan Preseason Tournament.  Entering a new conference this season, the Rockets and Lady Rockets were getting their first look at their new rivals from the Warren County Grammar School League.  The Lady Rockets opened the season with a win over Irving College.  The Rockets held off a late rally to edge Morrison.

In the girls’ game, Westwood held Irving College scoreless in the 3^rd quarter as they rolled to a 35 to 10 win.  The Lady Rockets pushed their 16 to 5 halftime lead to 24 points entering the 4^th quarter as Westwood only surrendered two baskets from the field in the game.  Seven different Lady Rockets scored led by Princess Penaloza and Keena Sievers who each had 8 points.  Allie Sullivan added 7 points. 

In the boys’ game, the young Rockets opened the season with a 21 to 18 victory in a game that came down to the final horn.  Westwood held an 11 to 5 lead at intermission in a tight defensive struggle.  Morrison was able to cut the deficit to one possession in the 2^nd half but the Rockets hit their layups and free throws to grab the win.  Jayden Carter led Westwood in scoring with 16 points.  Skylar Stinson added 4 points. 

The Lady Rockets will return to Morrison on Thursday for a 5 PM game against Centertown.  The Rockets will take on the Centertown boys beginning at 7 PM.  Both games will be held at Morrison Elementary. 

The Coffee County Middle School 6^th grade basketball teams traveled to Tullahoma on Tuesday to take on West Middle School.  The Lady Raiders routed the Lady Bobcats 41 to 4.  The Red Raiders fell in the closing second to West 28 to 25.

The 6^th grade basketball teams will travel to Winchester on Thursday night for a pair of games at with North Franklin.  That doubleheader will take place at Franklin County High School.  The girls’ game will tip off at 6 PM. 

The Coffee County Youth Basketball League was in action on Tuesday night for a pair of doubleheaders.  In girls’ action, Westwood drilled North Coffee 25 to 9 and Hillsboro doubled up Hickerson 20 to 10.  In boys’ play, North Coffee edged Westwood in overtime 43 to 40 and Hillsboro dropped Hickerson 25 to 6.

The elementary league will be back in action on Saturday with a full slate of action.  Play begins at 9 AM with a doubleheader between Hickerson and East Coffee.  At 11 AM, New Union takes on North Coffee.  At 1 PM it is a doubleheader between Westwood and Hillsboro and at 3 PM, Deerfield squares off against College Street.  Each matchup will feature a doubleheader with a girls’ game first, followed by the boys’ contest.  

Updated standings(through October 22^nd)