CARY — The Richmond Senior High School junior varsity girls’ basketball team’s perfect start came to an end on Friday.
After a pair of running-clock wins to begin the season, the JV Lady Raiders suffered an overtime loss at Panther Creek High School.
Playing its first road game of the winter, a career-high 33 points from sophomore Olivia Brown wasn’t enough in a 51-46 decision.
“The girls fought so hard and I’m so proud of their effort,” head coach Tonia Breeden said. “We had some mismatches and miscommunications in the fourth quarter and overtime.
“This loss showed us what we need to work on,” she added. “Olivia continues to be our leader on the court and she refused to lose tonight. She really took control in the second half and overtime. We just couldn’t get it done.”
The JV Lady Raiders led 9-6 after the first quarter. Brown and freshman Iyana Little each netted a three-pointer.
Freshman Kaniah Little scored the first two of her five points and Kenya Bailey added a free throw.
The JV Lady Catamounts shifted the momentum to tie the game 16-16 at halftime.
A field goal and three foul shots by Brown gave her eight points at the break. Iyana Little scored a bucket for the final of her five points.
Richmond was outscored 13-9 in the third quarter. Four points from Brown were complemented by a Kaniah Little three-ball and a bucket from Bailey.
Trailing 29-25 to start the fourth quarter, Richmond used 14 points from Brown to force overtime. She scored all the team’s points during the final eight minutes of regulation on two triples, a field goal and four foul shots.
Brown gave the team a 37-36 lead with two free throws with 2:52 to go. After a three-pointer by Panther Creek gave the home team a one-point lead, Brown sank a free throw to tie it at 39 points.
The final 90 seconds of regulation saw both teams have chances to win, including a three-point attempt by Panther Creek at the buzzer.
In the overtime period all of Richmond’s points funneled through Brow, She added her final seven points on a field goal and five free throws.
The JV Lady Catamounts used three straight three-pointers to tie the game at 45 points and notch the six points additional that secured the win.
The JV Lady Raiders (2-1) will begin Sandhills Athletic Conference play on Tuesday at Pinecrest High School. The game is slated to start at 5 p.m.
