FAYETTEVILLE – For the second time this fall, the Richmond Senior High School varsity girls basketball team played quality basketball in Saturday’s Terry Sanford High School Jamboree.
Just like their Raider counterparts who competed in the Southern Lee High School Jamboree in Sanford, N.C., the Lady Raiders and first-year head coach Teddy Moseley took to the court at R. Max Abbott Middle School in Fayetteville to help kickstart their season. Richmond was one of 14 teams playing at three area schools, and the Lady Raiders went 1-1 on the day.
Last Monday, Richmond hosted Uwharrie Charter Academy and defeated the Lady Eagles 45-17 in their first exhibition play of the year, and Saturday’s two-game performance yielded more positive results for Moseley’s young team.
In Fayetteville playing four eight-minute quarters per game, Richmond fell to Sandhills Athletic Conference opponent Jack Britt High School 20-19 in its first game, before bouncing back to defeat South View High School 54-41.
“It was a good day, a productive day,” Moseley commented. “I think we came out a little flat in first game, and our defense wasn’t the best. But the second game was a lot better, and the shots we missed in first game fell in the second.
“I was really most impressed with our defense in second game,” he continued. “Bree Wall and Taliah Wall played excellent defense up front, and I thought Hailey Miller did a good job at the point — she had some great passes and shot decent, too.”
Against Jack Britt, it was sophomore Jayla McDougald who led the Lady Raiders. In a game where both teams struggled to put the ball in the basket, McDougald dropped 11 of Richmond’s total 19 points, draining three triples in the process. Fellow sophomore Jakerra Covington finished with four points, and Moseley is expecting their performances to carry over into the regular season.
“Jayla played great in both games but really played well in the second game,” Moseley said. “Jakerra is going to be the best athlete on the court no matter who we play, and she’s going to get lots of rebounds for us.”
Another player who had a stronger performance in the second scrimmage against South View was junior Allexis Swiney.
“Allexis did what I wanted her to do more of, which was penetrate to the hoop,” Moseley explained. “In the first game we settled for too many jump shots, but against South View, we used our strength which is our speed, and Allexis did a good job of penetrating.
“I saw more good than bad, but we need to work on rotations on defense,” the head coach concluded. “Jardai Tillman is going to get a lot of rebounds, but needs to be more patient. The biggest thing we need to get better at is finishing around the basket. But everyone is learning and working hard.”
The jamboree wrapped up the Lady Raiders’ preseason play, as they’ll prepare to open their season at home on Tuesday, Nov. 27, against Whiteville High School. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
ROSports will publish a Lady Raider basketball season preview later this week.
