ROCKINGHAM — Entering Tuesday’s basketball game with a plan, senior point guard Jamyia Lindsey executed it down to the final seconds.
The Richmond Senior High School girls’ basketball team kept its chances alive in the Sandhills Athletic Conference tournament, winning its semifinal matchup against Scotland High School.
A common storyline this season, Lindsey finished the game with 38 points, five points more than the entire No. 4 Scotland lineup scored. The No. 1 Lady Raiders earned a 52-33 victory.
The even bigger story on the night was Lindsey reaching a personal milestone in the closing moments. With a three-pointer from near the top of the arc, Lindsey surpassed 2,000 career points.
Entering the fourth quarter needing 13 points to reach the monumental mark, Lindsey made three field goals, three free throws and two three-pointers to end the game with 2,002 points.
She became the second Richmond basketball player to score at least 2,000 career points, joining Paul McNeil Jr. (NC State), who did it during his senior season last year.
Lindsey achieved the feat in 84 career games, despite missing all but four games her sophomore season due to an ACL injury. In her career, she’s averaged 23.8 points per game.
Tuesday’s win was smooth sailing for the Lady Raiders, especially in the second half, as they punched their ticket back to the SAC tournament championship game.
Helping Richmond to the win were junior Jasiah Gilchrist (11 points) and sophomore Madisen Jackson (3 points).
A 5-0 run by Richmond started the game’s scoring, featuring a Gilchrist triple and a floater from Lindsey in the paint. Scotland knotted the score on the next two possessions with 3:53 left in the quarter.
Both teams traded points to end the opening stanza tied 9-9. Lindsey had the remaining four points for Richmond on a free throw and a three-pointer, her first of two in the first half.
Using a 9-2 run through the opening 5:28 of the second quarter, the Lady Raiders opened their lead to their largest margin in the half, 18-11. Jackson scored the first three points for the team on a jumper in the paint and a free throw.
A baseline drive from Lindsey was followed by two visits to the foul line. She made all four baskets to make it a seven-point advantage.
Scotland cut its deficit to a point after a Madison Dixon triple, but Lindsey sank a contested three-pointer at the buzzer to give Richmond a 21-17 lead at halftime.
Adding to its four-point cushion in the third quarter, Richmond opened up its lead with a 14-8 run. Lindsey connected for four field goals for another eight points, while Gilchrist netted two buckets and two free throws for six points.
Icing the game for good, the Lady Raiders started the final stanza on a 7-0 run to take a 42-25 lead. Lindsey had five of those points on a putback, a free throw and a transition basket. Gilchirst had the other two points on a drive through the paint.
Still needing eight points to reach 2K, Lindsey ended the final 2:32 of regulation with her final 10 points. She started with two free throws, added a putback off the glass and made her third three-pointer of the game.
Bringing the ball up the court, Lindsey used a screen set by sophomore Kaylan Parsons to create space near the top of the arc for her history-making three-pointer with 9.7 seconds left in the game.
The No. 1 Lady Raiders (19-5) will play No. 2 Union Pines (24-1) for the SAC tournament championship Friday.
The third meeting this season between the SAC’s co-champions will be played at Richmond Friday, starting at 6 p.m. Each away team won the previous two matchups.
