CAMERON — The Richmond Senior High School junior varsity girls’ basketball team lost a close game Tuesday.
Playing at Union Pines High School, the JV Lady Raiders couldn’t overcome a slow start and lost 44-42.
A low-scoring first half by both teams led to a 13-13 tie at the end of two quarters. The JV Lady Vikings edged Richmond 31-29 in the second half.
“The girls came out flat to start the game and just couldn’t recover,” head coach Tonia Breeden explained.
“There were a few mental lapses here and there also,” she added. “But the girls never gave up and they fought to the end.”
Like they have for a majority of the season, sophomore Olivia Brown and freshman Kaniah Little were the top point scorers for Richmond.
Brown had 22 points, netting 20 points in the second half, while Little scored 17 points. She split her scoring with nine points in the first half and eight points in the final two quarters.
Freshmen Audicy Rush (two points) and Iyana Little (one point) rounded out the scoring effort.
The JV Lady Raiders took a 7-5 lead after the first quarter. Kaniah Little scored all of the team’s points on three field goals and a free throw.
Union Pines outscored Richmond 8-6 in the second stanza to knot the game at 13 points entering the break. Brown, Rush and Kaniah Little each scored one field goal.
A tight third quarter led to Richmond taking a 28-27 lead. Brown had nine points on two baskets and connected on 5-of-6 attempts from the line.
Kaniah Little chipped in another six points for the JV Lady Raiders, making a trio of buckets.
Union Pines closed out the win with a 17-14 stretch in the final eight minutes. Brown’s final 11 points were scored on four baskets and three free throws.
Kaniah Little recorded her final two points and Iyana Little made her free throw. As a team, Richmond missed nine free throws in the game, including six in the fourth quarter.
Finishing their season next Friday, the JV Lady Raiders (6-6, 4-4 Sandhills Athletic Conference) will play at Scotland High School. The game is scheduled to start at 5 p.m.
