FAYETTEVILLE — A little late-game confusion regarding the scorebook and a buzzer beater were at the center of the Richmond junior varsity boys’ basketball team’s game Tuesday at Seventy-First High School.
The scoreboard and the official scorebooks didn’t match at the end of regulation, explained Richmond head coach Kenta Hutchinson. According to him, the books had the game tied, but the scoreboard showed Seventy-First winning 59-57 following a buzzer-beater.
After discussing the debacle with the officials, it was determined by the officiating crew that the Falcons would earn the Sandhills Athletic Conference win.
Three Raiders would have double-digit scoring performances, led by sophomore guard Xavier Collazo and his team-high 18 points. Sophomore wing Deshon Watson contributed 11 points, while freshman guard Dakota Chavis knocked in 10 points.
With the game close down the stretch, the Raiders converted on just 1-of-6 free throws in the fourth quarter, which Hutchinson noted as possibly being the difference maker.
“I’m proud of my guys for continuing to fight when faced with adversity,” the head coach said. “Seventy-First is a tough environment to play in, but we welcome that kind of atmosphere.
“It’s always a loud and intense place to play, and our guys responded well,” Hutchinson continued. “But we weren’t able to pull off the win.”
He added that the Raiders “had some chances to seal the game late, but missed four critical free throws down the stretch.”
Richmond got out to a fast start, outscoring the Falcons 20-10 in the first quarter. Collazo used his shot from downtown to hit two three-pointers and added two free throws for his first eight points.
Chavis would ring in another triple and a field goal for five points. Sophomore teammate Luke Williams, who finished with five points, connected on three free throws to help the Raiders take the early advantage.
Seventy-First managed to close the gap by two points in the second quarter, putting up 16 points to Richmond’s 14 points. Watson and Collazo would each net five points, while a Micah Jackson three-pointer and a Chavis free throw gave the Raiders a 34-26 lead at the break.
Both teams finished the third with 11 points to take the eight-point differential into the final stanza. Chavis, Watson, Williams and Robert Bethea each put in a basket, and Travion Dumas scored a three-ball.
Momentum swung in favor of the Falcons in the final eight-minute period as they put 22 points on the board, 10 more than the Raiders. Collazo scored his first second-half points with a field goal and a three to lead the team with five points.
Bethea, Chavis and Watson all added a bucket and Dumas knocked home one more free throw. But the Raiders were bested by a last-second shot as the final buzzer went off.
Richmond saw its record drop to 10-4 overall and 3-3 against SAC opponents. The Raiders will return to the hardwood Friday at home against rival Scotland High School.
Freshman Raiders’ game ruled “no contest”
Adding to the uncharacteristic trip to Fayetteville, the Richmond County Ninth Grade Academy boys’ basketball team saw its game called in the fourth quarter.
Head coach Taivon Jones explained the game was ruled a “no contest” due to “unsafe playing conditions.” Jones noted the court in Seventy-First’s auxiliary gym was slippery and players kept sliding and falling to the ground.
Richmond was trailing at the time the game was called, although the Raiders were not credited with the loss. The freshman team (3-1) will return to action on Friday at the Academy against Scotland High School.
