SANFORD — Putting a stop to an early-season losing streak, the Richmond Senior High School girls’ basketball team started conference play in the right direction Friday.
Rebounding from three consecutive losses after starting the season 2-0, the Lady Raiders opened Sandhills Athletic Conference action with a convincing win at Southern Lee High School.
Behind a running clock, the Lady Raiders earned a 78-25 victory, their largest margin of victory this winter.
Head coach Taneika Reader said Friday was a good opportunity to boost the team’s confidence, while also allowing a big rotation of players to pick up minutes.
Richmond used its defense early on to force several turnovers that quickly translated into points. Free throws were also important, as the Lady Raiders connected on 13-of-14 shots from the line in the first quarter.
Senior point guard Jamyia Lindsey matched her single-game season-high of 30 points despite not playing her usual number of minutes.
Junior guard Olivia Brown scored a career-high 15 points, including the basket that started the running clock with 1:47 to play in the third quarter. Fellow junior guard J’Nasia Neal added 12 points in the win, a season-high for her.
Richmond had a total of seven players find the basket Friday. Junior Jasiah Gilchrist scored eight points, sophomore Madisen Jackson added five points and senior Quanna Bostic and sophomore Kaniah Little each had four points.
The Lady Raiders put the game away in the first quarter, outscoring Southern Lee 30-5. Lindsey had two field goals and was a perfect 9-for-9 at the foul line to score her first 13 points before sitting the second half of the quarter.
Neal helped get the game going with her first seven points. She knocked down a trio of baskets and added an and-one opportunity.
Brown, who led the team with three three-pointers in the game, sank her first from the left corner to make it 26-4. She also had a drive in the paint in the closing two minutes. Gilchrist scored her first three points and Little added a pair of free throws.
Southern Lee (2-4, 0-1 SAC) outpaced Richmond 13-12 in the second quarter, making Richmond’s lead at halftime 42-18.
Lindsey scored Richmond’s first eight points of the quarter on a three-pointer from the left side, a free throw and back-to-back midrange jumpers.
Little scored her final two points on a baseline jumper in the closing 1:20 and Bostic collected her own rebound and put it in the basket for the last two points of the half.
As part of a 22-point third quarter, Brown and Neal each hit a three-ball and a field goal for five more points apiece. Gilchrist and Lindsey helped spearhead a physical defense that allowed them to each score four more points on transition baskets.
A field goal each from Bostic and Jackson, along with Brown’s three at the buzzer, made it a 64-23 lead heading into the fourth.
With the clock winding, the Lady Raiders tallied their final 14 points against the accelerated clock. Lindsey and Brown mirrored one another with five points, both scoring a three-pointer and a field goal.
Jackson recorded her final three points and Gilchrist netted one free throw. Southern Lee was led in scoring by Makayla Hall, who had 16 points.
The Lady Raiders (3-3, 1-0 SAC) will play Overhills High School (4-3) Saturday in the Queens of the Court showcase, which will be played at Rolesville High School. Tip-off is scheduled for 11:30 a.m.
