ROCKINGHAM — It’s fitting that the top two scorers for the Richmond Senior High School girls’ basketball team were named to the 2019-2020 All-Sandhills Athletic Conference squad.
Senior point guard Keionna Love and junior guard Jayla McDougald were announced to the team on Friday following all SAC teams being eliminated from the NCHSAA 4A state playoffs.
The selection for Love made it the second of her career, having also been chosen following her sophomore season. McDougald, meanwhile, earned the accolade for the first time of her career.
“They both earned this honor,” head coach Teddy Moseley said. “They were key components to our season this year.”
Running the back court for the Lady Raiders, Love and McDougald were an instrumental part of Richmond going 16-9 overall with a 7-7 mark against SAC opponents. That was six more wins than the Lady Raiders had a season ago.
Love returned to the green and gold for her senior campaign after playing at the O’Neal School during her 11th grade year. In 24 games this winter, Love led the Lady Raiders in total points scored (357) and averaged a team-best 14.9 points per game.
She would eclipse the 20-point mark five times, and Love netted a career-high 25 points against Seventy-First High School on Feb. 11.
“It feels great going out with a bang,” Love said. “This is a great accomplishment to even be considered for.
“Mack Attack and I have great team chemistry,” she added of McDougald. “We know when and where each other is going to be. I feel really confident that she’ll exceed my expectations and take the team farther next year.”
McDougald wasn’t far behind Love, having her best season to date by averaging 10.4 points per contest. She finished the year with 259 points scored in her 25 games.
Playing against Lumberton High School on Feb. 12, McDougald recorded seven three-pointers on her way to a career-high 25 points. She was clutch down the stretch of the season, adding 18 points against Seventy-First and 17 points against Hoke County.
“Getting selected for All-Conference for the first time is really important to me,” McDouglad said. “This has always been something I’ve wanted to be a part of. I worked hard all summer and this season, and it feels good to know everything paid off.
“What makes me and Kat’s chemistry so great is that we played travel basketball for two years with the Richmond Jammers,” she continued. “We call ourselves the ‘dynamic duo’ and she’s like my big sister. I love being on the court with her.”
Taking the “Player of the Year” honor was Purnell Swett High School freshman Kylie Chavis, who led the Lady Rams to a third-place finish in the standings. She averaged 17 points and 8.1 rebounds per game.
Jack Britt High School head coach Nattlie McArthur was tabbed the “Coach of the Year” after guiding the Lady Buccaneers to a perfect 14-0 record against SAC opponents, as well as winning the SAC tournament championship.
Below is a complete list of the 2019-2020 All-SAC girls’ basketball team:
Jack Britt (4)
Nyla Cooper
Keya Goldsby
Ashara Hayes
Amber Nealy
Seventy-First (3)
Amore Kirkland
Nyleah Nick
Ayana Williams
Purnell Swett (3)
Kylie Chavis
Jada Coward
Natalie Evington
Richmond (2)
Keionna Love
Jayla McDougald
Hoke County (1)
Iyana Swindell
Lumberton (1)
August Smith
Pinecrest (1)
Keayna McLaughlin
Scotland (1)
Asjah Swindell
