FAYETTEVILLE — Adding a couple players into the lineup during week two of the 9 Dime Fall League helped the Raiders earn their second consecutive victory.
Competing against the Robeson County team, which was made up of players from several high schools in the county, the Raiders carved out a 58-49 win. Through two weeks of the fall development league started by Charles Clark, a regional scout, Richmond sits at 2-0.
“The guys were good at times, sloppy at times, but overall they did okay,” volunteer head coach Maurice McLaurin said. “We were sluggish early, but we got it together and we came away with the win.”
In the league’s opener last weekend, the Raiders had just six players. This time around, senior forward Nygie Stroman joined the lineup, as well as a couple of freshmen in Paul McNeil and Jamarion Wall.
Leading the charge was junior guard Deshon Watson, who led the team with 16 points, including two three-pointers. Stroman, who has been playing travel basketball with Flight 22, made his fall debut with Richmond by contributing 12 points and a team-leading seven rebounds.
“Nice overall showing,” Clark tweeted of Watson. “(He) got into the paint at a high rate.
“(Stroman) dropped in this week and put together a solid performance,” he added in another tweet. “(He’s) a high skillset player.”
Sophomore guard Dakota Chavis also had himself an afternoon, chipping in nine points and two rebounds. Senior Dylan Lewis added seven points and four rebounds, Wall drained two triples for six points and McNeil notched five points and three boards.
Junior Luke Williams was big on the glass for the Raiders, scooping up five rebounds.
“We had almost everyone with us this weekend, which was good,” McLaurin said. “Deshon had a good performance and was really aggressive from the beginning. We keep telling the guys the more aggressive they are, the faster positive things will come.
“It was also good to have Nygie’s presence on the floor and what he brings to the table,” he added of Stroman. “Him being out there really helps bring the team closer together.”
Of McNeil and Wall, McLaurin said it was refreshing to see two freshman players with potential varsity impact get “positive minutes” during the pre-season game.
The Raiders will return to action next Saturday for week three of the 9 Dime Fall League. The game will be played at New Life Christian Academy.
