ROCKINGHAM — During each practice for the Richmond Senior High School boys’ basketball team this pre-season, two sets of numbers have glared down from the scoreboard with the clock set to zero.
74-60.
The Raiders had 60 points when the final buzzer rang in March during the NCHSAA 4A basketball state championship. In the program’s third ever state title appearance, Richmond came up 14 points short.
But now that score is serving as a reminder for the Raiders and seventh-year head coach Donald Pettigrew. Moreso, it’s motivation that’s personifying this season’s mantra — run it back.
With the arrival of a new season little more than a week away, the Raiders will get an early shot at redemption against Myers Park High School, the team which they lost to in the spring.
The first of several tough non-conference games, Richmond will look to build off a season for the ages and try to clinch the elusive state championship hardware.
While the state playoffs and another possible trip to the Dean Dome are months away, the message by the players and coaching staff is clear — the expectation is to win at all costs and be the last team standing in the spring, albeit one game at a time.
A season ago, powered by North Carolina State University commit Paul McNeil Jr. and a host of other players, the Raiders finished with a 28-3 overall record, tying the school’s record for the most wins in a single season.
It was also the program’s most wins in a season, two better than the year before. Also winning their first outright conference title since 2003-04, the Raiders mopped up Sandhills Athletic Conference opponents and swept all 12 games for just the second time in the team’s history.
Richmond’s main cast of players looks similar this season, with a few departures and new additions.
The Raiders will be without former multi-year starters Zion Baldwin and Dakota Chavis, both of whom graduated. Also gone is Jullien Cole, a three-ball threat, who moved out of state.
McNeil Jr., who averaged 24 points per game and 8.7 rebounds per game last year as a wing, is the reigning NCBCA’s All-State Player of the Year. Returning for his senior season, he will again be the Raiders’ catalyst on both sides of the ball.
Also back are seniors Javian Drake (point guard, 10.6 PPG) and Jamarion Wall (shooting guard, 7.3 PPG), who were key players in Richmond’s run at state as juniors.
Other returners include senior guard David McNair and sophomore guard Jayden Hamilton, who proved to be a defensive asset during his freshman season.
Making the jump to varsity this season will be juniors Keidreion Crump, Keyonta Davis, Davion Ingram, Ahaiver McDonald and Ali Tyson. Of these players, Pettigrew said several are in the mix to fill the starting roles that have been left open.
Newcomers include senior Jada Zimmerman, who last played as a sophomore, and sophomore Jacob Rankin.
Two other additions this winter are transfers Braylon Barfield and junior TyShawn Harris (South Garner High School).
Barfield, a senior forward who stands at 6-8, led Marlboro County High School in scoring as a junior with 10.9 PPG. Pettigrew noted that Barfield should strengthen Richmond’s play in the post and expects him to be a contributor this winter.
During the pre-season, Pettigrew has been again impressed with Richmond’s ability to run offensive sets and score. He knows that offensive production will generate much of Richmond’s success, but his emphasis, as always, is to strengthen the defense.
A season ago, the Raiders averaged 77.5 points per game on offense while allowing opponents to score 54.5 points per four quarters.
Pettigrew, who surpassed the century mark in wins last year, believes stifling defensive play by the Raiders will be the x-factor that could take the program to Title Town.
Not shying away from competition, the Raiders will play a gauntlet non-conference schedule this season, including their first five games on the road.
After playing Myers Park, Richmond will travel to Fayetteville Academy, Millbrook, First Flight and John Marshall (Va.) high schools.
Fayetteville Academy was a fourth-round NCISSA playoff team last year, while Millbrook (4A) and First Flight (3A) both made it to the third round of the NCHSAA playoffs.
John Marshall High School in Richmond, Va., won the Virginia High School League Class 2 state title with a 28-0 overall record.
The Raiders will also travel to Grovetown High School (Ga.) to compete in the Allen Iverson Classic in December. Richmond will host non-conference South Mecklenburg High School after the New Year.
Pettigrew explained the philosophy this season is simple — Richmond needs to “play one game at a time” and check off each step to get back to the state championship. That starts with “getting better every game” and winning the SAC crown.
While he and the players know that nothing is guaranteed, Pettigrew smiled when he said the team is “ready to run it back.”
Returning this season to help orchestrate the offense is assistant coach Keith Parsons. Also assisting will be Frank Harrington, Kenta Hutchinson and Maurice McLaurin, Kendo Wallace and Derrick Wiley.
The Raiders will begin their campaign on Tuesday, Nov. 21, at Myers Park. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m.
This season the Richmond boys’ junior varsity basketball team will be coached by first-year head coach Travis Byers.
The Richmond Observer will continue its award-winning coverage of the varsity and junior varsity boys’ basketball teams this fall.
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