ROCKINGHAM — An uptick in intensity was needed for the No. 1 Richmond Raider basketball team to secure its 13th straight win Thursday and advance to the Sandhills Athletic Conference tournament championship game.
Strong offensive performances in the first (29 points) and fourth quarters (30 points) by the Raiders were enough to help them to an 85-73 win over No. 4 Pinecrest High School in the tournament semis.
Advancing to their third straight SAC tournament title game, the Raiders also reached the 20-win mark for the fourth time in the last five years (including the pandemic-shortened 2020-21 season).
Richmond held a double-digit lead for much of the first quarter, but the Patriots chipped away during the second and third quarters to pull within three points, 55-52, to start the final eight minutes.
The Raiders responded by netting 30 points to Pinecrest’s 21 points in the fourth, distancing themselves for good.
Four players had double-figures for Richmond — seniors Paul McNeil Jr. (33 points), Javian Drake (18 points) and Jamarion Wall (15 points), along with junior Ahaiver McDonald (10 points).
Adding to the win were senior Braylon Barfield (four points), junior Davion Ingram (three points) and sophomore Jayden Hamilton (two points).
Richmond shot 33-for-68 from the field as a team (48.5%), including 12-of-26 from three-point range (46.2%). All of Wall’s points came courtesy of triples.
Applying the full-court press from the opening possession, the Richmond defense set the tone early. Despite being out-rebounded by the Patriots, the Raiders didn’t miss many shots early.
A 24-4 run by Richmond through the first 5:30 of the period gave the Raiders their largest lead of the game.
Wall and McNeil each hit a three-pointer early and Drake snuck in a layup off a steal in between. Pinecrest got on the board at the 4:58 mark with a pair of free throws.
A drive from McNeil Jr., who had 17 of his 19 first-half points in the first quarter, split the lane for a basket and the foul shot, igniting a 16-2 run to make it a 20-point lead.
Richmond’s next three buckets all came from beyond the arc, with McNeil Jr. sandwiching treys from opposite wings around another from Wall.
The press afforded a loose ball on a Patriots turnover, which was sent to McNeil Jr. for a one-handed jam. A transition bucket by Barfield ended the stretch.
In the closing minute, McNeil Jr. netted his fourth three-pointer of the quarter and a McDonald jumper gave Richmond a 29-13 lead.
The Patriots (13-10) scored the first six points of the second quarter, but a timeout called by Richmond head coach Donald Pettigrew stopped it. Back-to-back treys from Drake and Wall, coupled with a bucket from McNeil Jr. in the paint erased the Patriot run.
Richmond would only score one more basket in the final 3:52 of the second quarter, a transition bucket by Drake to give him seven points at the break.
The Patriots went on a 9-2 run to pull within 11 points at halftime, 39-28.
Pinecrest carried over the momentum into the third quarter, using a 24-16 scoring stretch to make it a one-possession Richmond lead.
McNeil Jr. had six points in the third, all on field goals, and Drake added four points on two free throws and a transition layup.
McDonald, who scored eight of his 10 points in the second half, kept Richmond ahead with a three-ball. A Barfield bucket under the hoop and a free throw from Hamilton kept the Raiders in the lead.
Pinecrest closed the final minute of the third on a 4-0 run, all free throws, to force the Raiders’ hand going into the last quarter.
Starting the fourth quarter, Richmond superfan James “Biggie” Lyerly let out a loud “let’s go Richmond” call, which sparked energy within the team and the gym.
Quick buckets by McDonald and Ingram, followed by a mid-range jumper from the left side from Drake, opened the lead to nine points and forced a Pinecrest timeout.
A pair of McNeil Jr. free throws, a Wall triple from the top of the arc and an old-fashioned three-point play by McDonald regained a double-digit lead for the Raiders, 69-59, with 5:09 to play.
Continuing the rush of scoring to keep ahead of an answering Pinecrest offense, Wall pulled up for his final three-pointer and Drake answered on the next possession with a triple from the right corner.
Up by 16 points, Richmond coasted the final three minutes, using McNeil Jr.’s final six points on two putbacks and a basket on an inbound throw.
Hamilton netted his final two points on a strong effort through the paint and a baseline drive from Drake eclipsed the 80-point mark. Two of McNeil Jr.’s final three baskets counted for Richmond’s final four points.
The Patriots were led in scoring by London Ravenell (16 points), Jaden Saunders (15 points), Zymire Spencer (12 points) and Azir Gillespie and Elijah Melton (both with nine points).
Set to try and win their third-straight SAC tournament championship game, the No. 1 Raiders (20-5) will go for it Friday at home against No. 2 Southern Lee High School (22-3).
Having defeated the Cavaliers by an average of 24.0 points per game during the two regular-season meetings, the Raiders will tip-off at 7:30 p.m.
Ahead of the boys SAC tournament championship game, the No. 1 Lady Raider basketball team (21-4) will try to do the same thing against No. 2 Scotland High School (21-3). That game will begin at 6 p.m.
Sports editor’s note: Unofficial statistics provided by assistant coach Keith Parsons. The Richmond Observer will publish a gallery of Richmond’s win soon.
