WINSTON-SALEM — Surrounded by his players and coaches in the locker room after Thursday’s playoff game, Donald Pettigrew took a deep breath and spoke from the heart.
He told them he loved them and was proud of them. And by the way every person’s eyes were locked on Pettigrew, it was clear how much it resonated with the team that has become a family beyond the basketball court.
The No. 2 Richmond Raider basketball team finished a bucket shy of returning to the state title game, falling short in the NCHSAA 4A East regional championship game and finishing as the regional runner-up.
Although the Raiders led for 28:05, No. 1 New Hanover High School squeaked out a two-point win, 55-53, in the closing 70 seconds of a physical, fast-paced game.
Richmond led for the entirety of the first three quarters, its largest lead of the night, 10-points, coming early in the third stanza.
But the Wildcats tied the game with 2:40 to go in regulation and took a pair of two-point leads in the closing two minutes.
The winning points were two free throws by Rodmik Allen with 1:10 left in the game. He finished with 23 points.
In the final minute, the Raiders had three inbounding plays under their own hoop but couldn’t find the cylinder.
Pettigrew called a timeout and drew up a play he hoped would win the game, he explained.
After an inbound and several passes around the perimeter, sophomore guard Jayden Hamilton received a pass from senior wing Paul McNeil Jr.
Getting an open look from beyond the arc along the right wing, Hamilton’s shot hit the back of the iron, just missing its mark.
With a second left in the game, New Hanover (32-0), prematurely celebrated after grabbing the rebound. The Wildcats inbounded the ball and were fouled with 0.4 seconds to go and inbounded it once more to run out the clock.
“The guys played hard and did all the right things,” Pettigrew said. “The ball just didn’t bounce our way tonight. Hats off to New Hanover, they made stuff difficult for us.
“We didn’t knock down the shots we usually do. But I’m so proud of the guys. I told J-Ham (Hamilton) it was a good look for him on the final shot, it just went in and out.
“We were drawing up something that would win it,” Pettigrew added. “We didn’t want to go to overtime. We double stacked it for Paul and (New Hanover) played it well, and Paul made the right play by making the open pass to J-Ham. It was a great look. I told him not to hold his head down, he played a heck of a game. It’s part of basketball.”
In his final high school game, McNeil Jr. netted a game-high 36 points on 12-of-25 from the field. He sank four three-pointers and also made all eight attempts he took from the foul line.
McNeil Jr., an North Carolina State University signee, recorded a double-double with a game-high 12 rebounds.
Six other players found the basket for Richmond. Hamilton scored five points to go with his seven boards.
Senior guards Javian Drake and Jamarion Wall each netted four points. Junior guard Keyonta Davis scored two points and senior David McNair and junior Ahaiver McDonald both knocked down one free throw.
“It’s been a great journey,” McNeil Jr. said. “God blessed us with basketball and we’re a special group that grew up playing together. All of our coaches stayed on our necks and I’m thankful for that.
“We fell short tonight. I feel bad about the way it happened, but everything happens for a reason. I kept playing because I knew we needed a ring. We came too far to give up, but it happened the way it happened.
“I’m most proud of the brand, rocking the Raider diamond,” McNeil Jr. added. “I’ve been blessed to represent that diamond the last four years. It means so much to me. We’ll bounce back and be there for the younger guys who are going to need our support.”
McNeil Jr. recorded the first seven points for Richmond, starting the game’s scoring with a triple from the top of the arc. He made the ensuing and-one opportunity to make it 4-0.
A stepback three-ball from the left wing from McNeil Jr. padded the early lead 7-2. A bucket from Wall in the paint and a drive through traffic by McNeil Jr. gave Richmond its first of several seven-point leads in the first half.
The quick moving first quarter ended with a baseline jumper from McNeil Jr. and Drake got on the board with a layup in transition.
Leading 15-8, Richmond allowed a small run by the Wildcats to close the quarter. Allen hit a three at the buzzer to reduce Richmond’s lead to 15-13.
A four-point run to start the second quarter was aided by two McNeil Jr. free throws and a hard layup from Wall. McNeil Jr. set up the play with a steal and a long outlet bounce pass.
After Allen cut the Wildcats’ deficit to three with another triple, McNeil Jr. started a 6-0 run with a jumper to give the Raiders their largest lead of the half.
That was followed by one free throw each from McNair and McDonald, along with a Drake basket under the hoop.
Up 25-16 with 3:45 to go before the break, a drive from Hamilton and four points from McNeil Jr. (two free throws, one field goal) sent the Raiders into the half with a 31-24 lead.
In the opening 30 seconds of the third quarter, McNeil Jr. splashed in another three-pointer. That basket made it a 10-point advantage, the largest for Richmond at any point in the game.
Richmond stayed ahead by nine points thanks to a Hamilton free throw and a McNeil Jr. jumper.
But a 10-6 run by New Hanover in the final 4:31 of the third cut its deficit to 43-38 entering the fourth. McNeil Jr., Davis and Hamilton each scored in the paint for those six points.
The final of those six points came on an athletic drive from Hamilton, which ignited “Richmond” chants from the stands.
The Wildcats used a 13-8 run through the opening 5:20 of the fourth to tie the game. McNeil Jr., who did all of Richmond’s scoring in the final stanza, scored eight of his 10 points on a triple, three free throws and a drive.
A layup by Zeus Batts with 1:42 to play gave the Wildcats their first lead, 53-51. McNeil made a spinning jumper in the paint to tie it again on the next possession down the floor.
Allen was fouled driving to the hoop, which sent him to the line for the game’s last two points.
Batts and Parker Crittenden each scored nine points.
“Our seniors over the last three years have taken our program to a new level,” Pettigrew said. “They’re leaving it better than when they came in and I’m so proud of them for that. And I’m so proud of all the guys and our coaches for their hard work this season.
“I’m most proud of being able to share these moments over the past couple of years with our community and getting all of its support. It’s a great feeling seeing our fans here.
“And I’m so proud of the guys for winning so many games at home and playing exciting basketball,” he closed. “The guys have great character and they love on each other. And now our seniors have left their mark on our program and I’m excited to see them get ready for the next chapter of their lives.”
The end of Richmond’s season, and the end of an era, came to a close with a 25-6 overall record this season.
Richmond and Pettigrew broke several program records while sweeping Sandhills Athletic Conference play (12-0) for the second straight season, earned the outright SAC title and won its third straight SAC tournament championship.
It was the final game of the careers of McNeil Jr., Drake, Wall, McNair and fellow seniors Braylon Barfield and Jada Zimmerman.
In their three full seasons together, Drake, McNeil Jr. and Wall posted a 41-1 record against SAC teams and won 12 of their 15 playoff games (.800 playoff winning percentage).
The Richmond Observer will publish the All-Conference team and any other accolades once they’re made available.
Sports editor’s note: Official statistics provided by the NCHSAA. A photo gallery of Thursday’s game will also be published later this week.
