ROCKINGHAM — Richmond Senior High School athletics return in full force this week after many teams enjoyed the holiday break.
Raider hoops looking to extend undefeated start
Fresh off a championship win at the Holiday on the Hardwood tournament in Cherokee, the Raiders added three more wins to their 11-0 start over the break.
Sophomore shooting guard Paul McNeil was named the tournament MVP, while teammates Zion Baldwin, Dakota Chavis and Javian Drake were named to the all-tournament team.
The 11 consecutive wins to start a season are the best for fifth-year head coach Donald Pettigrew.
Richmond (11-0) will return to Sandhills Athletic Conference play this week with games against Hoke County High School (6-1, 2-0 SAC) and Union Pines High School (10-1, 1-0 SAC). Both games are on the road, with the Raiders visiting the Bucks on Tuesday and going to the Vikings on Friday.
The junior varsity boys’ basketball team will host Hoke County and Union Pines on the same days at Richmond.
Lady Raiders eye two more conference wins
The Richmond girls’ basketball team also played in the Holiday on the Hardwood tournament and finished with a win in three games. The Lady Raiders defeated Avery County and fell to North Buncombe and Clover.
Prior to the trip to Cherokee, the Lady Raiders finished as the runner-up in the Gil Bowman Holiday Classic, which was played at Fayetteville State University.
Now sitting at 7-4 overall and 2-0 in conference, the Lady Raiders will also get back to SAC action against Hoke County (1-10, 0-2 SAC) and Union Pines (7-4, 1-0 SAC). Both games will be on the road and start at 6 p.m.
Also in action this week will be the girls’ junior varsity basketball team, at home against the same opponents.
Bowling teams to start second round of conference play
Richmond’s boys’ and girls’ bowling teams will travel to Laurinburg Lanes on Wednesday for their fourth conference meet of the season.
Both teams are off to a strong start, having each picked up 10 points in the standings in their final meet before the break.
Now the Raiders and Lady Raiders will face rival Scotland High School for the first time this season, before turning the page and starting their next round of SAC play. Richmond will also bowl against Southern Lee High School this week.
Both of Richmond’s teams defeated Southern Lee in the first round of action. Games will begin at 4 p.m. in Laurinburg.
Wrestling set for two meets this week
After a busy holiday break that saw the Raiders wrestle in the Elizabeth Barry Memorial Clash at the Creek and the Leigh Hebbard Wildcat Invitational, Richmond’s wrestlers will return to the mat twice more this week.
On Wednesday, the Raiders will face off against Pinecrest High School and host Lee County High School in an SAC tri-match, starting at 5 p.m. That will be followed by the Boneyard Bash at Jack Britt High School on Friday.
Note: The Richmond swimming teams will be off this week and return to St. Andrews for their third meet of the season on Jan. 12.
