ROCKINGHAM — The player who Lady Raider head basketball coach Teddy Moseley called his team’s “motor” all season was rewarded earlier this week.
Sophomore forward Jakerra Covington was named to her first All-Sandhills Athletic Conference team following her second season on varsity. She was the lone Richmond player to be selected to the 17-player roster.
Pinecrest High School’s Keayna McLaughlin was tabbed as the 2018-19 SAC “Player of the Year,” and was the frontrunner of the Lady Patriots’ conference-best five selections. Her coach, Ronshau Cole, took home the “Coach of the Year” title.
“Jakerra led our team in points scored, rebounds and steals,” Moseley said. “She is a hard worker who brings it at every practice, as well as at every game. She never takes a play off, so every honor that she receives is definitely well-earned.”
A season after finding her role on the team as a freshman under former coach Rosalind McDonald, Covington blossomed in Moseley’s system. She not only led the team in three categories, but she also averaged a double-double throughout Richmond’s 24 games.
Covington scored an average of 11 points per contest, while grabbing 10 rebounds per game to complete the double-double. She also led the team with three steals per game.
A physical presence down low in the paint, Covington helped lead the Lady Raiders to a 10-14 overall record and a 6-8 record against Sandhills Athletic Conference opponents. Richmond finished in fifth place in the standings, and also improved last season’s win total by four games.
In the season opener against Whiteville High School, Covington scored a then-career high 14 points. She continued to improve throughout the season, something Moseley credited for her work ethic. Covington capped off her sophomore season by dropping a new career-high 22 points against Scotland High School.
Behind Pinecrest’s five selections, thanks to regular season and SAC tournament championships, Seventy-First High School saw three of its players named. Getting two selections apiece were Jack Britt, Lumberton and Scotland high schools, as Hoke County and Purnell Swett high schools each added one player.
The complete list of the 2018-19 All-SAC girls’ basketball team can be found here.
