ROCKINGHAM – Donald Pettigrew has been a staple in Richmond Senior High School’s basketball program since he was a two-time state champion runner up as a player in 1996 and 1997, and over the last 17 years as an assistant coach. But the 2017-18 varsity season, his first as the program’s head coach, was something he “never expected.” But in more positive ways than outsiders might think.
It was no secret heading into the season in November and December that a transition from former head coach David Laton’s “The System” would take place. And with it, Pettigrew noted, came a seamless change in culture that all of his players, seniors and underclassmen included, “bought into” and “cared about.”
And through its trials and tribulations, the Raiders finished with a 7-18 overall record this season, and a tie for last place in the Sandhills Athletic Conference. But as Pettigrew would explain, this transition year is a part of his plan to restore Richmond to being one of the top programs in the state.
Despite having several different starting lineups throughout the course of the 25-game season, Pettigrew found that his players trusted in what he was doing and were “all in” from the season’s start, regardless of who was in the starting five each night.
“It was definitely a growing year, and it was a lot different being the head coach instead of an assistant,” Pettigrew said when reflecting on his first season. “We dealt with guys getting hurt and sick – and we had 18 different players (log varsity playing time).
“But I enjoyed the challenge,” he continued. “My motto is always ‘next man up,’ and our guys were ready when their number was called. The transition (from The System) was easy because a lot of these guys have been around me before. They’re used to my style. I liked what we did this year, and I remind them to remember how this season felt. We have a chance to be pretty good next year.”
Pettigrew, whose philosophy was to shift the nation’s leading scoring team from 2016-17 to a more defensive-minded scheme, knew the process would take some time.
Last season, the Raiders averaged 100.9 points per game, but allowed a shocking 88 points per game on defense. Laton’s system relied on a barrage of scoring that helped tally a 20-7 record – but Pettigrew was willing to take his lumps if it meant getting the team on his track.
This season, while the Raiders only averaged 57.3 PPG on offense, they significantly cut back their opponents’ average score to 62.6 PPG, and allowed only 88 points or higher one time.
Pettigrew’s vision for Richmond is to operate the game the “right way.” And it all starts with being able to play a complete game and finishing down the stretch.
“The future is bright (if) we can get guys to play a complete 32-minute game,” Pettigrew explained. “Except for one game, we were in every game this season. But we missed shots and came up short – we just couldn’t keep our composure. We have to perfect our defense.
“It’s my job (moving forward) to be a better coach and realize when my players need a timeout so we don’t lose that focus and composure,” he continued. “But I’m proud of the way we played this year, and the way we started to change the culture (of Richmond basketball). I want my guys to play the right way on the court, in the classroom and in the community.”
And while part of that culture shift is getting away from playing no defense to becoming what Pettigrew hopes to be “one of the best defensive programs in the state,” the good news for the Raiders is that there will be several familiar faces back on the bench next season.
Richmond will lose five seniors to graduation, all of whom were versatile players who bought into Pettigrew’s change despite only have one year left (Darrius Butler, Kaleb Douglas, Malik Flowers, Carl McNeal and Da’Shaun Wallace). But with their departure, seven returning players will fall in line for their second season under Pettigrew, with the additions of “several promising players” from junior varsity.
Returning as seniors next year will be guards Roderick Newton, Alex Quick, Malik Stanback and Bobby Terry, all of whom Pettigrew noted as being “explosive players” who provide a spark on offense and the ones he expects to get a bulk of the scoring from next year. Also coming back as a senior will be Xavier Pettigrew, who nursed a sprained MCL and tendinitis in his left knee for the second half of the season. It’s the elder Pettigrew who will “expect a lot” from his son, as Richmond missed his presence in the post for much of the season upon his transfer from Temple Christian School.
Jarvis Tillman, who was a “big presence inside” when Pettigrew was out, will return as a junior. Tillman was averaging around five blocks per game in the final stretch of the season. Caleb Hood, who started the year with JV, will return and give the Raiders more depth on the bench.
Two newer faces that Pettigrew hopes to see join the team are Malik Crowder and Quamir Sivells. Crowder, a shooting guard, has played basketball for Richmond before taking this season off, while Sivells made an impressive varsity debut against Scotland in the SAC tournament, and is a player that “can be something special.”
Even with the season in the books, developing his program never really stops for Pettigrew. Along with Ninth Grade Academy basketball coach Tony Terry, Pettigrew will coach several of the current and future Richmond players in AAU ball this spring and summer. Pettigrew also plans to enter the Raiders in several summer ball tournaments around the state to help fine-tune the team’s chemistry, which is a factor he believes will make the team that much better next season.
In addition, Pettigrew also hopes to acquire the help of local sports trainer Errol Hood and get his players involved in plyometric training to work on speed, agility, strength and finesse on the court.
As for what Pettigrew expects to do next season – the answer is simple: win.
“I want our players to continue to develop and get better,” Pettigrew said. “And I want us to win. Our goal is to become a top program in the state, and I’d like to get back to how we played in ’96 and ’97. I know we’ll be a whole lot better (next season).”
And perhaps that will become the new staple for Richmond basketball in the coming seasons under Pettigrew’s leadership.
