ROCKINGHAM — Tuesday’s first round NCHSAA 4A East playoff game was never in doubt for the Lady Raider basketball team.
Opening the postseason on their home floor, and returning for the first time in two seasons, the No. 5 Lady Raiders coasted to an 84-46 victory over No. 28 Cleveland High School.
Leading by double-digits for all but the opening 6:50 of the game, Richmond maintained a 30+ point lead for much of the second half.
Head coach Teddy Moseley credited the team’s strong defense, especially early in the game, to keep the tide in Richmond’s favor.
The Lady Raiders broke the game open in the first quarter, using a 17-3 run to put some distance between them and the Lady Rams.
Three players scored double-figures for Richmond — junior point guard Jamyia Lindsey (30 points), sophomore guard Jasiah Gilchrist (18 points) and freshman forward Madisen Jackson (16 points).
In a game dominated by Richmond’s 23 steals, Lindsey had 10 swipes and Gilchrist had eight takeaways. Helping each other score, Lindsey dished out eight assists and Gilchrist had six helpers.
On the boards, Lindsey had seven to lead the team and junior Rena Drake had four rebounds to go with her two points.
Rounding out the team’s nine overall scorers were seniors MaKailah Jackson (6 points), Ryelan Lyerly (5 points), C’Niya Hinson (3 points) and Ciara Marshall (2 points). Also scoring two points was freshman Iyana Little.
Part of a five-player scoring effort, Richmond led by double figures for most of the first quarter. Lindsey led the team with 11 points through the first eight minutes, with Madisen Jackson netting eight, including the first three points to make it 3-0.
A Lindsey drive and free throw, coupled with another Madisen Jackson bucket, gave Richmond an 8-3 advantage. Cleveland pulled within two points with a three-pointer at the 3:40 mark, but its scoring went cold, adding just three points the rest of the period.
A Gilchrist free throw sparked the 17-3 run that gave Richmond a 25-9 lead at the end of the quarter. Lindsey followed with a putback and a free throw and Hinson netted a shot from the line with the Lady Raiders in the bonus.
Lyerly came to life with four quick points, making a shot under the hoop on an inbound and a pair of free throws.
Leading 17-6, Richmond scored eight points in the final minute. Lindsey and Madisen Jackson each completed an old-fashioned three-point play and two Lindsey free throws went through the hoop with 4.6 seconds on the clock.
The second quarter was equally as dominant by Richmond, which led by 31 points, 48-17, at halftime.
A 23-8 stretch by Richmond during the eight minutes was started by Lindsey with a transition bucket and two free throws. Drake knocked down two shots from the line for her scoring and made it a 31-13 lead.
MaKailah Jackson traded defense for offense in the second quarter, netting all six of her points. She bookended two shots from close range around a Lindsey drive.
Gilchrist turned a steal into two easy points, starting an 11-2 run in the final 3:15 of the half. Adding to it were both Jackson sisters with a bucket each and a Lindsey triple and jumper at the buzzer.
The Lady Rams played Richmond closer on the scoreboard in the third quarter, but the Lady Raiders still outscored Cleveland 17-14.
Lindsey paced the team with seven more points on three field goals and a free throw, while Gilchrist netted five of her 13 second-half points on a bucket and a triple.
Madisen Jackson and Hinson each scored a field goal and a free throw from Lyerly pushed the lead to 65-34 to start the fourth quarter.
Unable to start the running clock with a 40-point lead, Richmond led by as many as 38 points in the closing quarter, 72-34.
Gilchrist used three field goals and two free throws to round out her scoring. Two buckets from Madisen Jackson, a field goal and a free throw by Lindsey and a shot each from Marshall and Little ended Richmond’s scoring.
Leading the Lady Rams in the team’s final game of the season were Angelia Dunn (16 points), Jim’Mara Banks (10 points) and Nevaeh Cannon (8 points).
The No. 5 Lady Raiders (23-4) will host No. 21 Leesville Road (17-6) Friday for the second round of the 4A East playoffs. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.
Leesville Road upset No. 12 New Hanover High School in the first round Tuesday.
Sports editor’s note: Unofficial stats provided by assistant coach Taneika Reader.
