CHERAW, S.C. – Playing for the second time this week, the Richmond Senior High School varsity boys basketball team closed out its preseason schedule on a high note with a 33-17 victory over Cheraw High School.
Playing in the fifth annual Terrance Ford Memorial Jamboree, which honors Ford, a former Cheraw teacher and coach who passed away in 2013, Richmond was one of eight teams to compete during the exhibition scrimmage. The Raiders, led by second-year head coach Donald Pettigrew, played in the final matchup of the night squaring off against the host Braves in two eight-minute halves.
Having his best game of the preseason for Richmond was junior center Jarvis Tillman, as the big man dropped a game-high 15 points. Something he’s been working on in the offseason has been his jump shot, and it showed as Tillman hit four mid-range jumpers, splashed home a triple and had the most explosive play of the night on a one-handed putback jam following an offensive rebound.
“Jarvis’ confidence level is so high right now,” Pettigrew said following the game. “He’s been playing good ball all summer and he’s playing really well right now. His jump shot is falling and I told him to shoot when he’s open. He’s also getting big rebounds and blocking shots for us on defense.”
Tillman was responsible for four of Richmond’s first seven points, as he put a shot in the bucket on an inside pass from senior teammate Alex Quick, before collecting another offensive board and laying it in. Senior shooting guard Roderick Newton nabbed the game’s first points just eight seconds into the game off the tip, as he collected the ball and drained a three-pointer from the right corner.
The quick seven-point run forced Cheraw head coach Robert Mammes to call a timeout, and his team responded with its first bucket 2:15 into the game when Xavier McIver collected a rebound and tossed it off the glass. Sophomore Nygie Stroman extended Richmond’s lead with a offensive rebound putback with 4:18 to go in the first half, and that’s when Tillman took over.
Tillman hit a 10-foot jumper to make it 11-3, and on the next defensive possession, he intercepted the ball and made an outlet pass to Quick for an easy two in transition. Charging back down the floor, Tillman stood tall and swatted away a Cheraw shot attempt from inside the paint.
To close out the final couple of minutes before the break, Stroman duplicated his shot from down low and Newton added his second of his game-high three three-pointers. At the half, Richmond held an 18-12 lead after field goals from Jalen Coit and Reggie Davis cut the Braves’ deficit to six points.
“I tell the guys, especially Rod, who is our best three-point shooter, to take any shot that’s open,” Pettigrew said of his offense’s success. “I’m trying to preach to them to play unselfishly and get the ball to the open man.”
The Raider defense held the home team to just five second-half points, and outscored Cheraw 15-5 in the process. Tillman opened the second frame with a spinning shot off the glass, which was complemented by Newton’s final triple on the next possession at the 5:22 mark.
Tillman’s slam came moments later when he collected an offensive rebound high above the net and threw it down over a Cheraw defender to give the Raiders an 11-point lead, 25-14. Sophomore point guard Patrick McLaughlin got in on the scoring action, as he hit his only shot of the night, a three-pointer from the top of the key.
To close out the night’s scoring, Tillman went on a 5-0 scoring run, dropping a pair of free throws before showing his range from the left wing from downtown. Newton ended the game with nine points, followed by four from Stroman. The leading scorer for Cheraw was Coit with 10 points.
“The team’s chemistry is there, but it’s not where I want it to be yet,” Pettigrew explained. “They’re trusting each other and are learning to play with one another. They love being around each other and the little things will help us get better.
“Our defense was good, especially against No. 10 (Coit),” he concluded. “He’s a great player and we were able to slow him down. We’re not where we want to be yet, but I appreciate the boys’ efforts. And we’ll continue to build on that.”
The Terrance Ford Memorial Jamboree brings Richmond’s preseason schedule to an end, as the Raiders will now shift their focus to the season opener on the road at Pine Forest High School on Friday, Dec. 3. ROSports will publish a season preview next week.
