ROCKINGHAM — A strong first half by the Richmond Senior High School girls’ basketball team was undone by a low-scoring second half in Thursday’s Sandhills Athletic Conference opener.
Hosting Purnell Swett High School, the Lady Raiders let a seven-point halftime lead slip and fell to the Lady Rams 43-38. It was the first time in the last 10 meetings Richmond lost to Purnell Swett (last loss was Jan. 16, 2015).
Richmond had a hard time containing freshman point guard Kylie Chavis, who netted a game-high 18 points. Eleven of Chavis’ points came in the second half, which saw Purnell Swett (3-2, 1-0 SAC) outscore Richmond 27-15.
Leading the Lady Raiders (3-1, 0-1 SAC) with 10 points was junior forward Jakerra Covington, and junior point guard Jayla McDougald added nine points in the loss.
“We played a great first half and I thought we rebounded well,” head coach Teddy Moseley said. “Overall, the entire defensive effort was good tonight.
“But in the second half we didn’t box out and we allowed too many unforced turnovers,” he added. “Their press gave us trouble on offense and we didn’t stay in the middle like we practiced. We have to do a better job of focusing.”
Covington picked up where she left off from Tuesday, scoring four points in the first quarter as part of a 6-0 by Richmond to start the game. Chavis answered back with four points of her own, and the Lady Raiders led 9-8 at the end of the first quarter.
A McDougald three-pointer to open the second was followed by baskets from Covington and junior Davionna Campbell. Leading by seven, Richmond traded baskets with Purnell Swett to take a 23-16 lead into the half.
The third quarter belonged entirely to the Lady Rams, who went on a 17-4 run to go up by six points heading into the final quarter. Natalie Evington and Chloe Locklear both netted six points, and Chavis contributed five more.
Richmond’s four points came on a three-pointer from senior guard Keionna Love and a free throw by Covington.
Trailing 33-27 to start the fourth, the Lady Raiders made it interesting down the stretch. Covington drove to the basket in the opening 30 seconds, but a 6-0 run by Purnell Swett quickly saw the Lady Raiders down by 10 points and just over four minutes to play.
The Lady Rams’ press kept Richmond’s shooters at bay for much of the second half, but Love hit two free throws and a shot off the glass to pull within five. Campbell added two more points on the next possession on an offensive rebound, but it was too little, too late.
Free throws from Chavis, Alonna Locklear and Jada Coward in the final 45 seconds sealed the deal for the Lady Rams.
“We have just as much size as they do, but we watched the ball too much tonight instead of finding a person to box out,” Moseley said. “We were a little over confident following the first half and I told the girls Purnell Swett wasn’t going to lay down in the second half.
“We’ve got to get back to work,” he closed. “They were 15-of-30 from the free throw line and we were 7-for-21. The difference is (Purnell Swett) made free throws when it mattered and we didn’t.”
Love finished with eight points and Campbell posted a season-high six points. For the Lady Rams, Evington had nine points and Chloe Locklear chipped in seven points.
Richmond and Moseley will return to the hardwood on Tuesday in a non-conference meeting with Cheraw High School (0-1). Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.
