RICHMOND COUNTY — All of Richmond County’s middle schools saw their basketball programs get back in action Monday for the first time since the week before Christmas break.
In a previous Richmond Observer article, Rockingham Middle School’s boys and girls teams swept Ellerbe Middle School. Also in action Monday were Cordova and Hamlet middle schools’ teams, as Hamlet swept Spring Hill Middle School (Laurinburg, N.C.), while Cordova split action against West Hoke Middle School (Raeford, N.C.).
Hamlet Middle boys and girls spear Spring Hill Spartans
LAURINBURG — The Lady Red Rams and Red Rams of Hamlet put on two solid performances against the Spring Hill Spartans, as both teams won by over 25 points.
Deondra Morrison’s Lady Red Rams defeated their opponent 41-14 behind a 19-point scoring performance by Ryelan Lyerly. She scored five more points than the entire Lady Spartans team did, as she followed up a 13-point performance against Sandy Grove Middle School before Christmas break. Lyerly added five steals and two rebounds to her stat sheet.
The Lady Red Rams are now 3-0 on the season, and got 10 more points, nine rebounds and five steals from O’rena Drake in the win. A trio of Lady Red Rams each added four points apiece in the win: India Johnson, Shadaisha Lindsey and Da’Veah Robinson.
In the boys’ game, first-year head coach Keith Parsons and the Red Rams plowed their way past the Spartans using the “Grinnell system.” Hamlet netted a season-high in points, as they defeated Spring Hill 66-36. Hamlet also forced 45 turnovers.
Three different Red Rams recorded double digits on the stat sheet, led by JV Drake’s 16 points. Not far behind him were Xavier Wall (14 points) and Paul McNeil. Rounding out the scoring attack were CC Wall (9 points), Jamarion Bryant (5 points), David McNair (4 points) and Z’Yion Baldwin, Zay Hubbard and Toby McInnis each added two points.
Both Hamlet teams will return to action Thursday, Jan. 10, at home when they host West Hoke Middle School.
Cordova Middle teams split action with West Hoke
CORDOVA — Rounding out Richmond County’s action Monday were the Cordova boys and girls basketball teams, home against West Hoke Middle School. The two teams split their competition, with the boys winning their game and the girls dropping their contest.
The Cavaliers managed to secure their first win of the season, defeating the West Hoke Pride by a final score of 48-43. Jamaurion Wall was the Cavs’ top scorer, as he netted a team-high 24 points. Wall was helped out by 10 points from Jamison Jones and nine more points from Chris Grey.
Other scorers for Cordova were Frazion Steele (4 points) and David Pickett (1 point). With the win over West Hoke, the Cavaliers are now 1-2 on the season.
In Lady Cavaliers’ action, Cordova was on the wrong end of a 44-15 score. Deveah Wall was the team’s leading scorer, as she tallied eight points against the Lady Pride. Janyla Harrington, Janiya Leak and Yasmeen McLaughlin all had two points on the afternoon, while Mackenzie Bennett completed the scoring with one point.
The loss to West Hoke saw the Lady Cavaliers’ record fall to 0-3 on the young season.
Note: Area middle school coaches and athletic directors are encouraged to email scores and game details to sports editor Kyle Pillar at kpillar@richmondobserver.com. Game information provided by Deon Cranford, Deondra Morrison and Keith Parsons.
