ROCKINGHAM — Contributing to two victories, junior basketball player Ahaiver McDonald has been named the Official Richmond County Male Student-Athlete of the Week presented by Rockingham NC Self Storage.
The Richmond Senior High School boys’ basketball team maintained its first-place lead in the Sandhills Athletic Conference standings with wins over Pinecest and Hoke County high schools.
Helping lead a comeback win on the road against the Patriots, as well as netting a career-high in points against the Bucks, McDonald earned his first career recognition.
Athletic Profile
Year: Junior
Winter Sport: Basketball
Position: Guard
Varsity Experience: 1 season
CLASSROOM CREDITS WITH AHAIVER McDONALD
Along with the rest of Richmond’s student body, McDonald started the new semester late last month.
During the first semester, he took Civic Literacy, Drone Technology, Math III and Weight Training Honors. His highest grade of the fall semester was a 94 win Weight Training.
This spring, McDonald is taking four more courses at Richmond. Currently with all As and Bs to begin the new nine-week period, he’s in English III, Physical Science, Spanish I and Weight Training Honors.
“OFF THE BENCH” WITH AHAIVER McDONALD
Head coach Donald Pettigrew noted that McDonald is “getting hot at the right time,” embracing his role off the bench for the Raiders, who have won nine straight games.
Richmond had to come from behind in the second half to defeat Pinecrest 83-68 last Tuesday. McDonald finished with 10 points, including eight points in the pivotal second half.
To go along with his point total, McDonald recorded five rebounds, three assists and two steals.
After teammate Paul McNeil Jr. gave Richmond a 45-44 lead late in the third quarter, McDonald crashed the boards for two putbacks that helped distance the Raiders for good.
On Friday, the sailing was much smoother for the Raiders, who cruised past Hoke County 79-29.
McDonald scored a single-game career-high 17 points in the victory and added three boards, three assists and two takeaways.
Off the bench, McDonald went off in the second quarter with his first 13 points. He finished the game 7-of-9 from the field (78%) with a trio of three-pointers.
Adding four points in the third quarter, McDonald’s final bit of scoring came after the running clock started.
In 21 games this season, McDonald is averaging 6.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.2 assists per game.
The Raiders (16-5, 9-0 SAC) host Union Pines High School (10-9, 2-6 SAC) Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.
RAPID RESPONSE VIDEO WITH AHAIVER McDONALD
The Richmond Observer will publish two more Official Richmond County Student-Athletes of the Week next week.
