ROCKINGHAM — Looking to stay perfect on the season after an extended period of time off because of COVID-19 protocols, the Richmond Senior High School junior varsity boys’ basketball team relied on two double-doubles Tuesday.
Freshmen Toby McInnis and Jamerson Walton both went off for the Raiders, helping them defeat Hoke County High School 64-53.
McInnins, who is a regular starter for head coach Kenta Hutchinson, had the best game of his season with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Walton wasn’t far behind with 12 points, and he snagged 14 boards coming off the bench.
After scoring just two points in the first half, McInnis drained 14 points in the second half, including two three-pointers in the third quarter. Walton also had a strong second half, recording eight of his points in the final two stanzas.
The win helped Richmond improve to 5-0 on the season. Freshman point guard Javian Drake scored 15 points, while sophomore Zay Hubbard added 12 points.
“It felt good to be back from quarantine and it was good to get another win,” Hutchinson said. “We only had one practice between our last game and our game against Hoke, and it showed a little bit.
“We knew coming in that Hoke is always a tough opponent that plays hard, but we knocked the rust off,” he added. “We have a little rivalry with them and I’m proud of the way the guys played.”
The Raiders took a 12-6 lead after the first period, using five points from sophomore Xavier Wall. Hubbard hit the first of his two three-pointers and both McInnis and Drake added two points.
At the halftime break, Richmond led 23-19. Walton kept Richmond ahead with six points on two field goals and two free throws and Hubbard splashed down another three-ball. Sophomore Zyion Baldwin recorded his two points in the game.
McInnis came alive with 10 points in the third quarter to help keep Richmond ahead. He knocked down a pair of shots from beyond the arc and closed the frame with two more field goals.
Drake netted five more points in the third, Walton hit a bucket and freshman Jamison Jones notched his lone two points in the win.
Up 38-29 at the end of three, several Raiders poured it on in the fourth quarter to put the game away.
“Toby was really big for us,” Hutchinson said. “He’s in my starting lineup and I’ve been waiting for him to have this type of game. He’s always consistent, but last night he was really confident and made good plays scoring and on the glass.
“Jamerson hasn’t played a lot going in, but I had two guys in foul trouble, and he was the next man up,” he added. “He stepped up big for us and did a lot of things that mattered down the stretch.”
Richmond (5-0) will look to stay perfect when it travels to Lumberton High School on Friday. The game is set to begin at 7 p.m.
