ASHEBORO — Already down to five players, the Richmond junior varsity girls’ basketball team was even more shorthanded by the end of Monday’s game.
Playing a non-conference game at Uwharrie Charter Academy, the JV Lady Raiders lost 41-37.
Two players, sophomore Olivia Brown and freshman Iyana Little, fouled out in the fourth quarter. Richmond played the final two minutes of the game with just three players on the court.
“We had to come out of the press when Iyana fouled out,” head coach Tonia Breeden said. “It was working because (Uwharrie Charter) only scored five points in the third. Too many missed free throws hurt us, too. If we make those, we win the game.
“The girls played extremely well to only have five players to start,” she added. “It’s tough when you only have five and finish with three players, but they kept grinding until the end.”
Brown led the team in scoring with 16 points and freshman Kaniah Little netted 13 points. Also scoring were Iyana Little and Ny’Aziah Wilson, both with four points.
The JV Lady Eagles took a 15-8 lead after the first quarter. Brown had five points on a three-pointer and a field goal, Iyana Little had a basket and Kaniah Little made a free throw.
Both teams scored 10 points in the second quarter to send the JV Lady Raiders into the break down 25-18.
A trio of buckets from Brown and a field goal and two free throws courtesy of Kaniah Little accounted for the scoring.
Implementing the press on defense in the third quarter, Richmond went on a 9-5 scoring run.
Iyana Little, Kaniah Little and Wilson each had two points, and a three-pointer from Brown pulled the JV Lady Raiders within three points entering the fourth, 30-27.
But Iyana Little fouled early in the final stanza, and with Brown’s departure in the closing two minutes, Richmond was outdone 11-10 and couldn’t complete the comeback attempt.
Kaniah Little recorded her final six points on three buckets. Brown and WIlson both had two points.
As a team, the JV Lady Raiders went just 5-for-16 from the free throw line in the loss.
The JV Lady Raiders (4-4, 2-1 Sandhills Athletic Conference) will face non-conference Pine Forest Wednesday.
