ROCKINGHAM — For the second time in as many seasons, the Richmond Senior High School boys’ basketball team swept its entire Sandhills Athletic Conference schedule.
Putting a ribbon on top of another perfect conference season, the Raiders made easy work of Scotland High School during Friday’s regular-season finale.
Richmond, which extended its SAC winning streak to 34 games (including SAC tournament games) dating back to the 2021-22 season, notched its 12th straight win in a 104-66 running-clock victory.
The back-to-back 12-0 regular season records against conference teams have been the only undefeated runs in the Raiders’ history.
Ahead of Friday’s game, the Raiders’ six senior players participated in a senior night celebration. This year’s soon-to-be graduates were Braylon Barfield, Javian Drake, David McNair, Paul McNeil Jr., Jamarion Wall and Jada Zimmerman.
The Raiders used a 15-2 run to open the third quarter to build upon an eight-point halftime lead. The running clock went into effect on the team’s final bucket of the game late in the fourth quarter.
McNeil Jr. led all scorers with a game-high 40 points on 12-of-23 shooting, including 5-of-11 from three-point land. He went 10-for-11 from the line with 10 rebounds, and recorded his fifth 40+ point game this season.
Drake had a big night in his final regular-season home game, tying his single-game career-high 26 points. He shot 9-of-19 from the floor and chipped in four triples with eight boards.
Also reaching double figures, and one of 10 players to score in the win, McNair netted a career-high 13 points. He drained three triples to go along with two field goals.
Rounding out the barrage of scoring were Jayden Hamilton (seven points), Wall (five points), Ahaiver McDonald (four points), Davion Ingram (three points) and Barfield, Keyonta Davis and Tyshawn Harris (each with two points).
The Fighting Scots put up a strong effort through the first two quarters, trailing by six and eight points, respectively, at the end of the first and second quarters.
Richmond opened the game on an 8-0 run, using four points apiece from McNair and McNeil Jr. Triples from Wall and McNeil Jr. extended the Raiders’ lead to 14-5.
Scotland used a 10-7 run in the final 2:20 to cut its deficit to 21-15 to end the first. McNeil Jr. had five of Richmond’s points on a three-ball and two free throws and Drake got on the board with a basket underneath.
A high-scoring second stanza saw Richmond outpace the Fighting Scots by two points, 23-21, to take a 44-26 lead at the break.
Barfield, who had five rebounds, scored his bucket on an inbound pass, which was followed by an and-one opportunity for McNeil Jr., who had 19 points at halftime.
Another bucket from McNeil Jr. was followed by the first of four triples from Drake, who connected from the left wing to make it 31-23. Ingram’s three points came on an old-fashioned three-point play to extend the lead to 34-26.
Five combined points from McNeil Jr. and Drake built an 11-point cushion, but Scotland went on a run to pull within five points. McDonald snapped the drought for the Raiders with two free throws.
Richmond’s final three points in the half came in the final minute thanks to a Drake fastbreak layup and one free throw from Hamilton.
Regrouping at halftime, the Raiders applied their full-court press out of the locker room and didn’t look back. Starting with a drive from Davis, they went on a 15-2 run over the next 4:27 to jump ahead 59-30.
During that stretch, Drake had seven points on a three-pointer, a drive and two free throws. McNeil Jr. added four points in the paint and Wall capped his scoring with a mid-range jumper.
In the closing three minutes of the third, Richmond poured it on with 13 more points. McNeil Jr. scored a putback, sank a three-ball and made three consecutive free throws.
A Hamilton jumper, a drive from McDonald and a Drake free throw put the Raiders ahead 72-49 heading into the fourth quarter.
Richmond bolstered its lead in the final eight minutes with seven three-pointers from McNair (three) and Drake and McNeil Jr. (two each). The trio of seniors combined for 26 of the team’s 32 points, which also featured a breakaway jam by McNeil Jr.
Hamilton made two buckets in the fourth, including the basket that started the running clock. Harris added to the lead with a putback in the paint.
Leading Scotland in scoring Jonathan Graham (17 points), Shyland Harrell (17 points) and Dylan Lampley (15 points).
Taking the No. 1 seed in the SAC championship tournament, the Raiders (19-5, 12-0 SAC) will get a first-round bye. The team also has the SAC’s automatic 4A playoff bid.
Richmond will host the winner of No. 4 Pinecrest (12-9, 6-6 SAC) and No. 5 Scotland (9-15, 4-8 SAC) next Thursday. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.
Sports editor’s note: Unofficial statistics provided by assistant coach Keith Parsons and Kyle Pillar. Deon Cranford contributed to this article.
