ROCKINGHAM — A career-high performance during last week’s Sandhills Athletic Conference tournament earned standout freshman basketball player Jamyia Lindsey recognition as the Official Richmond County Female Athlete of the Week presented by HWY 55.
Lindsey’s 45 points against Union Pines High School lifted the No. 1 Lady Raiders to the SAC championship. In three games this season against the Lady Vikings, Lindsey is averaging 35.7 points.
Despite falling to Pinecrest High School in the title game, Lindsey and the Lady Raiders are preparing for the NCHSAA 4A state playoffs this week.
Athletic Profile
Age: 15
Birthday: Jan. 18, 2007
Year: Freshman
Winter Sport: Basketball
Position: Point Guard
Height & Weight: 5-6, 135 pounds
Years on Varsity: 1 year
Experience: 7 years
“45” WITH JAMYIA LINDSEY
There’s something special when Lindsey plays against Union Pines High School, including her two highest single-game scoring performances of her career. She’s scored 28, 34 and 45 points against the Lady Vikings.
In Richmond’s semifinal game in the SAC tournament on Wednesday, Lindsey added double digits to her new career-high with 45 points. She had 17 points in the first half, before going off for 28 points in the final two periods.
The Lady Raiders won the game 72-54 to advance to the conference tournament championship. Lindsey scored just one point less in the second half than the entire Union Pines team did as a whole.
Against the Lady Vikings, Lindsey had 12 field goals, 12 free throws and three triples. Her highest-scoring quarter was the third, which saw her net 16 points.
Two nights later, Richmond fell to Pinecrest High School 39-36 in the title game. Suffering their first loss to an SAC opponent all season, the Lady Raiders couldn’t overcome a slow start.
Lindsey finished the game with 13 points, tied for a team-high with teammate Jai’Maya Ratliff. She had three points in the first half (all free throws) and added 10 points in the final two periods.
The loss didn’t hurt the Lady Raiders’ playoff hopes, as the team secured the No. 8 seed and will host No. 25 Wake Forest High School in the first round on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Lindsey is averaging 22.6 points per game this season, which is second in the 4A East behind senior Jerni Kiaku (24.3 PPG, Garner High School).
Jamyia Lindsey (23) drives to the net in the second half for two of her career-high 45 points in last Wednesday’s win. (Kyle Pillar/The Richmond Observer)
RAPID RESPONSES WITH JAMYIA LINDSEY
ROSports: What are your thoughts on scoring 45 points against Union Pines, and what has allowed you to average 35.7 PPG against them this season?
Lindsey: “I’m proud of myself for setting a new career high and happy that I was able to help the team win.
“I set the tone early against Union Pines in the first game by breaking the double team. As a team, we were able to beat their zone and that allowed me to score a lot. Their man-to-man defense has a hard time guarding me and I knew that going into the game.”
ROSports: How have head coach Teddy Moseley and your mom, assistant coach Taneika Reader, helped you transition to have such a successful freshman season at the varsity level?
Lindsey: “They have both been encouraging and helpful. They tell me to play my game and I just go out there and do it.
“They’ve helped me learn how to control the game, when to speed things up and when to slow it down. They’ve also helped me figure out how to set the tone and be a leader on the court.”
ROSports: The Lady Raiders are the No. 8 seed in the playoffs. What are your expectations for the team heading into Tuesday’s first-round game against No. 25 Wake Forest?
Lindsey: “We just want to set the tone and get a win. We want to let the other teams know we’re coming for the top.
“As a team, we’re really focused on improving our defense. We know we can score, we just have to stop other teams. I hope our fans come out and support us and the boys. It should be two good games.”
The Richmond Observer will publish its Official Richmond County Male Athlete of the Week soon.
