ROCKINGHAM — Riding an eight-game Sandhills Athletic Conference opponent winning streak, and a chance to move into first place on senior night was at stake during Tuesday’s meeting between heavyweights Richmond and Seventy-First high schools.
But it would be the visiting Falcons that would remain in first place, using a fast start to eclipse the Raiders 66-42, and hand them their first conference loss since Jan. 8 against Hoke County High School.
Had the Raiders won, it would have marked the first time since the 2003-04 season they had swept the Falcons. Instead, Seventy-First (20-3, 10-3) remained in first place, while Richmond slid to third place behind Pinecrest High School (18-5, 9-4 SAC), and now sit with a 13-10 overall record, and is 9-5 against SAC opponents.
Senior shooting guard Roderick Newton opened the game with a three-pointer just 41 seconds in, banking it off the glass for an early 3-0 lead. But that would be the only lead Richmond would hold all night, as the Falcons would close out the first quarter on a 17-0 run to take a 14-point lead into the second period.
“We started off slow, and (Seventy-First) took it to us early,” head coach Donald Pettigrew said. “We got hit in the mouth and I have to do a better job as a coach to get my guys ready to play. Tonight we weren’t really aggressive and our free throws hurt us. It just wasn’t our night.”
From the charity stripe, Richmond went just 5-for-18 (27.8 percent).
In the second frame, Richmond made an effort to close the gap, but was still outscored 14-12. Four Raiders, senior Alex Quick, junior Quamir Sivels and sophomores Caleb Hood and PJ McLaughlin each netted three points in the quarter.
For Seventy-First, it was Brion McLaurin and Xzavier Howard leading the way, as the pair scored nine and eight points, respectively, in the open 16 minutes of play. At the break, the visiting team held a 31-15 lead.
Out of the intermission, Richmond was slow yet again, watching its deficit continue to build. The Falcons scored 22 points in the third quarter, its best scoring period of the night, with six Seventy-First players finding the hole. McLaurin added six more points to his game-high 17 points.
Newton and sophomore Nygie Stroman would each splash down a three-pointer in the third, with Stroman leading his team with five points. A pair of free throws by Alvin Freeman in the final 22 seconds made it a 26-point lead for the Falcons, 52-27.
The only quarter that the Raiders outscored Seventy-First was the final eight minutes, using six points from senior forward Xavier Pettigrew to outdo the Falcons 15-14. Stroman added four more of his final nine points in the frame, while Quick knocked down a jumper and a free throw to cap his six-point night.
“I told the guys I know they’re hurt and they’re upset, but it’s time to turn our minds to Scotland (High School) now,” Coach Pettigrew explained of the streak ending. “We really want to get our third seed, and we’re still fighting for it. It’s not over yet for us.”
McLaurin’s 17 points were aided by 13 from Howard, as Stephon Johnson added 10 points, and Trevon Bell and Freeman contributed seven points each in the win. Bell was the team’s leading scorer early on, but an apparent shoulder injury sidelined him for the rest of the game.
Stroman’s nine points were a team-high for Richmond, with Newton, Pettigrew and Quick each tallied six points.
Prior to the start of the game, Coach Pettigrew was joined by RSHS principal Jim Butler to honor the team’s four seniors. They were Newton, Xavier Pettigrew, Quick and Mycah Wilson.
“It was tough for our seniors, but I’ve been with them since eighth grade,” Pettigrew closed. “We started in AAU and have seen them grow as young men in this chapter of their life. I wish we would have won, but we have a lot of basketball left to play. It’s time to recharge for Scotland and the (SAC) tournament.”
The Raiders will look to hold onto their current third-place standing in the SAC when they head to Scotland for the regular season finale. Tip against the Fighting Scots is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Friday.
