SANFORD — It wasn’t a state record-setting performance like the first meeting almost a month ago, but the Richmond Raider basketball team handled its business at Lee County Friday.
Continuing their undefeated march against Sandhills Athletic Conference opponents, the Raiders stung the Yellow Jackets 92-40 with a running clock.
With the outright regular-season SAC crown already clinched, Richmond used its press defense and four double-digit scorers to win its 11th straight game.
Seniors Paul McNeil Jr. (19 points), Braylon Barfield (18 points), Javian Drake (17 points) and junior Ahaiver McDonald (14 points) combined to shoot 30-of-49 from the field (61.2%).
As a team, the Raiders knocked down 40-of-66 attempts from the field (60.6%), including 8-of-24 from three-point land (33.3%).
Barfiled tied his season-high in points and added a double-double with 11 rebounds. McNeil Jr. and Drake grabbed seven and four boards, respectively.
Four more players found the cylinder in the win, including nine points from senior shooting guard David McNair, who was 3-for-5 from downtown.
Other contributors were juniors Davion Ingram (six points) and Keyonta Davis (five points) and sophomore Amer Morrison (four points).
Opting to go with the full-court press early, head coach Donald Pettigrew said he wanted the Raiders to “get the momentum going early.”
Richmond used six scorers to take a 32-17 lead after the opening eight minutes. Drake and McNeil Jr. both led the field with eight points apiece.
Drake opened the scoring by collecting his own rebound and driving to the hoop, which was followed by McNair’s first triple from the right wing. Davis splashed down a three-ball from the opposite side to put the Raiders up 8-2.
Two close-range buckets from Barfield and McNeil Jr., along with a Davis layup off an inbound steal, grew the lead to 14-4.
Drake’s jump shot was smooth all game, as he pulled up for two mid-range buckets on Richmond’s next two possessions. A putback by Barfield made it a 14-point lead with 3:30 to go.
The Yellow Jackets (6-15, 2-8 SAC) made a run to pull within five points, 20-15. But a McNeil Jr. triple from the top of the arc started a 12-2 run in the final 1:42 of the quarter.
Another Drake jumper was answered by a McNeil Jr. three-pointer. Ingram joined the scoring with his first four points on drives in the closing 30 seconds.
Richmond’s largest lead of the first half was 35 points, which came on a Barfield old-fashioned three-point play with just over a minute to go in the second quarter.
To get there, Barfield, Drake and McDonald combined for all of Richmond’s scoring. Barfield had 10 points in the second, Drake added nine points and McDonald entered off the bench and made four field goals for eight points.
A Drake steal and layup, coupled with a Barfield tip at the rim, started the quarter’s scoring. Leading 36-22 after a small Lee County run, a McDonald jumper at the 4:40 mark fueled a 21-0 stretch for Richmond.
Drake made a triple and two buckets during the run, as Barfield had two free throws and two buckets. McDonald scored six straight points in the middle of the run, all in transition.
A three-pointer by Braden Elder snapped Lee County’s drought in the closing minute of the half. One more bucket from Barfield extended Richmond’s lead to 59-25 going into the locker room.
Rejoining the scoring in the third quarter, McNeil Jr. netted his final 11 points, part of a 21-8 spurt by the green and gold.
A shot underneath the hoop from McNeil Jr. was answered by McNair’s second three-ball of the game. McNeil Jr. made his final triple a possession later from the left corner.
Barfield added to the run with another bucket and McNeil Jr. officially started the running clock when he poked in a bouncing ball along the rim with just over three minutes to go in the third.
With the accelerated clock, McNair made his third and final three-ball and Drake sent an alley oop off the glass for a Barfield two-handed jam. Two more baskets from McNeil Jr. made it an 80-33 lead.
McDonald scored two free throws and two buckets, including a dunk, for his final six points in the fourth quarter. Richmond outscored Lee County 12-7 in the final eight minutes.
Morrison netted his four points on a rebound putback and a transition basket and Ingram laid in a fastbreak shot for his final two points.
The Yellow Jackets, who sit at the bottom of the SAC standings, were led by Nic Farrow’s 17 points. Kamaree Butler added six points in the loss, while four players had three points.
One more regular-season game awaits the Raiders (18-5, 11-0 SAC), who will host Scotland High School (8-14, 3-7 SAC) next Friday.
Along with the girls’ basketball team, the Raiders will celebrate senior night and honor this year’s six seniors. Tip-off is slated for 7:30 p.m.
Sports editor’s note: Unofficial statistics provided by assistant coach Keith Parsons and Kyle Pillar. The Richmond Observer will publish a photo gallery of Friday’s win Saturday morning.
