CARY — A second-half comeback effort by the Richmond Senior High School boys’ basketball team couldn’t undo a slow start Saturday.
Playing in the Jimmy V Showcase at Panther Creek High School, the Raiders suffered an 84-73 loss to Apex Friendship High School.
Scoring just 20 points in the first half, the Raiders made a strong effort to earn the victory in the final two quarters. Richmond netted 26 points in the third and 27 points in the fourth, outscoring the Patriots 53-45 in the second half.
Part of that surge were three Raiders who each scored a new single-game career-high in points. Senior Keyonta Davis led the way with 27 points, including 20 points in the second half.
Fellow senior Ahaiver McDonald chipped in 19 points, while junior Amer Morrison scored 11 points. Nine of Morrison’s points were added in the fourth quarter and McDonald had 14 points in the closing two periods.
Also scoring for the Raiders were junior Jayden Hamilton and sophomore Chance Crowder (7 points each) and senior Davion Ingram (2 points).
The Patriots took a 28-11 lead after the first quarter and led 38-20 at halftime.
Scoring Richmond’s 11 points in the first quarter were Morrison, Hamilton and Ingram (one field goal apiece) and Davis, who started with five points on two free throws and a triple.
A slower scoring second quarter yielded nine more points for the Raiders. McDonald entered the scoring column with two field goals and a free throw to give him five points at the break.
Davis made one more basket for seven points in the first half and two free throws from Crowder got him on the board.
Upping their offense in the third quarter, the Raiders used the shots of Davis, McDonald and Hamilton to close their deficit to 57-46.
Davis’ 14 points in the third were a team-high, as he opened with a three-pointer and connected on three free throws. His final eight points in the stanza were the result of four field goals.
McDonald contributed nine points in the third thanks to four buckets and a trip to the line to complete an and-one opportunity. Hamilton chipped in three points on a bucket and a foul.
Five players registered points for Richmond in their highest-scoring quarter of the game, led by Morrison’s nine points in the closing eight minutes. He sank four baskets and added a free throw.
Davis scored his final six points on a triple, a bucket and a free throw, which was added to by five points each from McDonald and Crowder. Hamilton netted one basket to round out the scoring.
Richmond (1-5, 0-1 Sandhills Athletic Conference) will head to Pinecrest High School (3-2, 0-0 SAC) Tuesday for its second conference game of the season. Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m.
Sports editor’s note: Stats provided by Richmond basketball and assistant coach Keith Parsons.
