ROCKINGHAM — The Richmond Senior High School junior varsity boys’ basketball team broke into the win column earlier this week.
Hosting Southern Lee High School on Monday, the JV Raiders ended a two-game slide to start the season.
Richmond narrowly edged the JV Cavaliers by a final score of 54-52. Leading the JV Raiders in scoring was a career-high 34 points from freshman guard Chance Crowder.
The JV Raiders held a two-point lead at halftime, 31-29, and trailed by a point entering the fourth quarter, 38-37.
Crowder proved big from the free throw line in the final stanza, going 9-of-10 with a bucket for his final 11 points.
Five other players scored in the win for Richmond — freshmen BJ Hinson (9 points), Josiah Brewington (3 points), Eric Legrand (2 points), Adrion Pore (2 points) and sophomore Yusaun Harrison (4 points).
Richmond opened the first quarter by taking a 12-11 lead. Legrand had his two points on a bucket and Hinson scored his first two points from the line.
Crowder netted eight points in the early going, dropping two field goals, a three-pointer and a shot from the line.
A 19-point second quarter by the JV Raiders helped maintain a one-possession lead at intermission. Four field goals, a three-ball and two free throws by Crowder gave him 21 points at the break.
Adding two points apiece were Hinson (free throws), Pore and Brewington.
Richmond was outscored 9-6 in the third quarter. Crowder and Harrison each found the basket one time and Hinson and Brewington both connected from the line once.
Adding to Crowder’s 11 fourth-quarter points were Hinson’s final four points on a three-pointer and a foul shot. Harrison added a bucket to help preserve the win.
The JV Raiders (1-2) will return to action on Jan. 5 at home against Hoke County High School. Tip-off is slated for 6 p.m.
