ROCKINGHAM — The second round of the NCHSAA 4A East playoffs is about 24 hours away for the Lady Raider basketball team.
The No. 5 Lady Raiders will try to make it to the third round of the postseason for the first time during head coach Teddy Moseley’s six seasons.
Two seasons ago, the team made a second-round appearance, the farthest it’s gone with Moseley as the head coach.
Hoping to knock down that barrier, Richmond (23-4) will host No. 21 Leesville Road High School (17-6) Friday.
If the latest addition of Lady Raider basketball is anything like the first round game, which resulted in an 84-46 win over No. 28 Cleveland, then Richmond has a likely chance of moving on.
Sticking with its identity as a defensive team, Richmond will look to rely on its top three scorers from the regular season — Jamyia Lindsey, Jasiah Gilchrist and Madisen Jackson.
All three netted double-figures during the opening round — Lindsey (30 points), Gilchrist (18 points) and Jackson (16 points).
Of Leesville Road, Moseley said the Pride have a good guard that can shoot the ball well, they have good size in the paint and that they’re well-coached.
Tip-off for Friday’s home playoff game is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
Below are some fast facts about the Leesville Road Lady Pride:
- The Lady Pride are coached by Chris Danehower and have won four of their last five games. The team has gone 6-3 on the road this season.
- To get to the second round, Leesville Road pulled a first-round upset, defeating No. 12 New Hanover High School 53-51.
- During the regular season, the Pride finished second in the 4A CAP 6 Conference with an 8-2 record, only behind Cardinal Gibbons (10-0).
- This season, Leesville Road has averaged 51.6 points per game, well behind Richmond’s 60.4 points per game.
- On defense, the Lady Pride have held their opponents to 41.0 PPG and have an average margin of victory of 23.0 points over their last five games.
- Freshman Finley Lewis accounts for most of Leesville Road’s offense and defense, averaging a team-high 12.1 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.
- Junior Molly Zuburg is also averaging double-digits (10.1 PPG) and leads the Lady Pride in assists (5.3) and steals (3.8) per four quarters.
- Sophomore Mattie Matonic and senior Motunrayo Balogun average 7.4 and 7.0 PPG.
- Leesville Road is shooting 43% from the field as a team this season, and 28% from three-point land.
- As a team, the Lady Pride turn the ball over 14.4 times per game, something a swarming Richmond defense will look to take advantage of.
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