RAEFORD — Putting a stop to a two-game skid Friday, the Richmond Senior High School boys’ basketball team kept another streak alive.
The Raiders, who fell short in back-to-back games for the first time in four seasons over the holiday break, broke back into the win column on the road at Hoke County High School.
Defeating the Bucks 88-48 behind a running clock, Richmond remained perfect in Sandhills Athletic Conference play.
The team and head coach Donald Pettigrew also extended their winning streak against SAC teams to 25 games (regular and postseason) dating back to Jan. 2022.
MacDonald Gym brought the heat and the intensity of a playoff atmosphere, and a tightly-contested first half was broken open thanks to a 20-4 run by the Raiders to start the third quarter.
Senior wing Paul McNeil Jr. controlled the game from start to finish, scoring a game-high 47 points. He had 26 points in the first half and 21 points in the final two quarters.
It was the third time this season he’s scored at least 47 points in a game and leads the state in 4A scoring with 31.1 points per game (according to MaxPreps).
Senior point guard Javian Drake chipped in 15 points for the Raiders, adding 11 points in the second half.
Seven other players scored for Richmond, including nine points from senior Braylon Barfield and eight points by junior Keyonta Davis.
Four players had two points each — senior David McNair, juniors TyShawn Harris and Ahaiver McDonald and sophomore Jayden Hamilton. Rounding out the scoring with a free throw was senior Jamarion Wall.
The Raiders and Bucks (9-5, 1-2 SAC) traded buckets early with the home team opening the game with a 7-6 lead. A layup from Drake and two field goals from Davis give Richmond its six points.
A three-pointer from Jaylen Sturdivant, who led Hoke County with 16 points, gave the Bucks the one-point advantage. But McNeil Jr. hit a fadeaway jumper off an inbound pass for his first two points and gave the Raiders the lead for good.
Five more points from McNeil Jr. on a triple and a field goal made it 13-7. Drake and Davis each went coast-to-coast for transition layups and McNeil Jr. closed his 11-point first quarter with two free throws.
The Raiders led by as many as 14 points in the second quarter, but a run by Hoke County closed the gap to 37-32 at halftime.
McNeil Jr. scored Richmond’s first 10 points of the second stanza, netting two field goals, a three-pointer and three free throws. After a Wall free throw and a basket and three-pointer from the left corner by McNeil Jr., Richmond went ahead 37-23.
In the final 1:15 of the half, Hoke County went on a 9-2 scoring stretch to cut its deficit to two possessions at intermission. McNair cashed in his two points on a layup for Richmond’s final two points.
Overcoming foul trouble in the first half, Richmond went on a 20-4 tear to begin the first six minutes of the third quarter.
Barfield joined the scoring with his first six points during that span, which featured a slam from the big man.
Drake, who incurred three fouls in the first half, returned to score 10 points in the third quarter. He contributed to the run with two triples from the right side, a transition basket and two free throws.
McNeil Jr. and Hamilton each scored two points to give the Raiders a 59-36 lead. In the final minute of the third, McNeil Jr. splashed down one of his six three-balls and made a pair of technical foul free throws.
Entering the fourth quarter with a 64-42 lead, Richmond kept the momentum going to outperform the Bucks 24-6 in the final eight minutes.
Like he had all night, McNeil Jr. converted at a high clip, netting his final 14 points. He scored three field goals, two three-pointers and a pair of free throws. McNeil Jr.’s final three-pointer in the final two minutes started the running clock.
Five more Raiders scored in the fourth. Barfield had his final three points, Davis, Harris and McDonald each scored two points and Drake connected on a free throw.
Sturdivant’s 16 points were the only double-digits for the Bucks. Also scoring were Darius Breeden (eight points), Brandon Graham (seven points) and Salah Sutton (six points).
The Raiders (8-4, 3-0 SAC) will welcome in undefeated non-conference opponent South Mecklenburg (13-0) Saturday at 2 p.m.
The Richmond Observer will publish a photo gallery of Friday’s win soon.
