ROCKINGHAM — The Richmond junior varsity girls’ basketball team couldn’t hold onto a first-half lead Thursday.
The JV Lady Raiders, who are down to just six players, dropped their first Sandhills Athletic Conference game of the season at home against Union Pines High School 54-47.
Holding a 26-18 lead at halftime, the game was tied at 36 points entering the fourth quarter. The JV Lady Vikings used an 18-11 run in the final eight minutes to seal the win.
In the second half, Richmond was outdone 36-21 by Union Pines.
Sophomore point guard Olivia Brown was Richmond’s leading scorer with 22 points. Freshman forward Kaniah Little reached double-digits with 13 points.
Also scoring for the JV Lady Raiders were freshmen Iyana Little (eight points) and Audicy Rush and Ny’Aziah Wilson (each with two points).
Kaniah Little scored her first nine points in the opening quarter, dropping four field goals and adding a free throw.
Brown netted five points on a three-pointer and a bucket, and Iyana Little’s four points made it an 18-8 lead.
Scoring just eight points in the second period by Richmond still secured an eight-point lead going into the intermission. Brown made a shot and four free throws for six points to give her 11 points at the half.
The only other scorer for Richmond in the second quarter was Kaniah Little, who scored a field goal to give her 11 points, too.
Union Pines began its comeback in the third quarter, scoring 18 points to Richmond’s 10 points to knot the game at 36-36.
Brown sank two more free throws and a basket for four more points. Netting two points each were Kaniah Little, Rush and Wilson.
In the closing quarter, another 18 points from the JV Lady Vikings put them out of reach of Richmond. The JV Lady Raiders scored 11 points, led by seven points from Brown.
Iyana and Kaniah Little each scored to round out the stat sheet. Richmond missed seven free throws in the fourth quarter.
The JV Lady Raiders (4-3, 2-1 SAC) are tentatively scheduled to play at Uwharrie Charter Academy at 3 p.m. Monday.
