KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — Richmond Senior High School head girls’ basketball coach Teddy Moseley got the first live look at his 2019-2020 team over the weekend.
Like the Richmond boys’ basketball team, the Lady Raiders headed west and played in the Powerade State Games at A.L. Brown High School and Kannapolis Middle School. Using a mixture of returning starters and rising varsity players, Richmond posted a 1-2 record in the two-day tournament.
As he prepares for his second year at the helm of the Lady Raider program, Moseley looked past the win and two losses to see where his team stands as it prepares for the regular season this winter.
“Overall I saw some really good things, and there were some things we have to work on as well,” Moseley commented. “Playing these games in June lets us see the mistakes we’re making and get them corrected ahead of the season.
“We will build on the good things,” he added. “This tournament helped me get an eye for players and see the attitude of the team.”
Playing in a four-team pool play bracket against Hopewell, North Buncombe and Wakefield high schools, the Lady Raiders opened with a 52-38 loss to Hopewell, which would eventually win the PSG title.
Returning to the green and gold for her senior season after winning a state championship with the O’Neal School last year was Keionna Love, who was the team’s leading scorer over the weekend. Love netted 12 points in the loss to Hopewell, as fellow rising senior Bree Wall followed up with 10 points.
The Lady Raiders’ lone win came in game two, a 47-44 edging of North Buncombe, which saw Love sound off for 27 points. Rising junior Jayla McDouglad contributed six points in the victory.
Richmond ended its tournament with a 45-29 loss to Wakefield, although Love impressed again with 19 points, all coming in the second half. Moseley explained his team forfeited its final game against Charlotte Catholic High School.
“Keionna played well the whole tournament,” Moseley commented. “She can get a basket from anywhere on the floor and can hit threes. Being left handed gives her an advantage, and her shots started falling as the games went on.
“Bree played great defensively, and she was our second leading scorer,” he added. “I was pleased that we finished a lot of layups that we missed last year, so now we just have to put it together on the defensive end.”
Other players Moseley noted as having a good tournament were rising senior guards Layne Maultsby and Hailey Miller, both of whom are expected to see a lot of minutes this year. He added that McDougald played well, and that rising junior and last year’s leading point scorer Jakerra Covington wasn’t present due to running in a track and field event.
As summer break takes full effect, Moseley said his team will continue switching its defense from zone to man coverage. He likes the speed his team has, and hopes the switch will allow the Lady Raiders to “attack other teams and dictate the game.”
From learning a new system, the head coach also expects his offense to get better playing against a tougher man defense throughout the offseason. Moseley also hopes rising junior twins Kelly and Shelly Hoffman, along with rising freshman Kyla Sampson, will help the team’s progress.
“It’s early in the season and we’re just trying to get better for when the season comes around,” he closed.
The Lady Raiders will be back on the court on Friday, June 28, when they compete in a summer jamboree hosted by Union Pines High School in Moore County.
