ROCKINGHAM — Just like they did to start Sandhills Athletic Conference play in early December, the Richmond Senior High School boys’ junior varsity and freshman basketball teams swept Purnell Swett High School.
JV Raiders return to win column with rout of Rams
After having a tough week last week with two conference losses, the JV Raiders and head coach Kenta Hutchinson returned to the win column with a convincing 56-35 win over the Rams.
The Raiders shifted some players and their roles around, and it benefitted the team as sophomore shooting guard Micah Jackson netted 12 points. Also getting into double figures was fellow sophomore guard Xavier Collazo with 11 points.
Freshman Dakota Chavis just missed out, but his nine points helped ease the Raiders to a win. Freshman call-up Zion Baldwin netted seven points in his JV debut, while sophomores Javares Stanback and Deshon Watson both scored six points.
“This was a much-needed win coming off two straight conference losses,” Hutchinson said. “We made some changes in the starting lineup, adding shooter Micah Jackson and pulling up freshman Zion Baldwin after the loss to Scotland last week.
“We wanted to make adjustments with seven conference games left, and we feel we can win out,” he added.
Richmond put its foot on the gas early, netting 17 points in the first quarter. Collazo, who scored 18 points the last time the teams played, netted eight points in the opening eight minutes. He scored a triple, two field goals and a free throw to lead the team.
Jackson got on the board with his first five points, also adding a three-pointer and a field goal. Baldwin and Watson helped give Richmond a 10-point advantage, 17-7, with one basket apiece.
Purnell Swett’s offense only managed to score 13 points in the first half, adding six more in the second period.
The Raiders opened their lead to a 28-13 halftime score with 11 points in the second. Chavis collected his first four points, Jackson drained another three-pointer and Watson and sophomore Mehki Harrington added a field goal.
Out of the locker room, Purnell Swett started scoring more efficiently, putting up 11 points in the third and 13 more in the fourth. But the Raiders didn’t shy away from the basket, combining for 28 points in the second half.
Stanback led the team with six second-half points on three field goals. Baldwin and Chavis both netted five points in the closing quarters and Jackson capped his scoring with four points in the third.
Collazo and Harrington each connected on one shot from beyond the arc to help the Raiders maintain their lead.
“I’m proud of our guys this season,” Hutchinson said. “We’ve fought hard in the wins and losses. I was impressed with Zion’s play. He got the start and played well, rebounding well and was aggressive on offense.
“I’ve been telling our guys to get back to having fun like we were earlier in the season,” he closed. “And that’s what we did against Purnell Swett to earn a good team win.”
The JV Raiders (11-5, 4-4 SAC) will stay at home on Tuesday when they welcome in Pinecrest High School, which has beaten Richmond twice this season. Tip is set for 6 p.m.
Freshman Raiders edge Purnell Swett
Across the county at the Ninth Grade Academy, head coach Taivon Jones and the freshman Raiders started the boys’ three-team sweep of the Rams with a 59-52 win. It also marked the second time this season the ninth grade team defeated Purnell Swett.
Zay Hubbard would lead the Raiders with 19 points, scoring 13 in the first half. Jeremiah Jenks had his best game of the season, netting 17 points, with 13 coming in the second half.
Teammate Emoni McBride also eclipsed the double-digit mark with 11 points, seeing six of them come in the opening quarter.
Other Raiders to score were Ashton Phifer (four points), Tez Anderson (three points), Zyion Baldwin (two points) and Frazion Steele (one point).
“We did a great job on offense and rebounding the ball,” Jones said of the win. “But we need to cut down on our turnovers.”
Richmond outscored the Rams 17-9 in the first, as Hubbard scored seven and McBride added six points. In the second, six more points from Hubbard helped the freshman Raiders take a 30-20 lead into the locker room.
Jenks added six points in the third, along with four more from Hubbard. McBride rattled in a three-pointer to keep Richmond ahead.
To close the game, Jenks tallied his final seven points in the fourth, coming up big with five made free throws. Anderson, Hubbard and McBride all added two foul shots.
The RCNGA team improved to 5-1 on the season and will welcome in Pinecrest on Tuesday, the team responsible for the Raiders’ lone loss. Tipoff is set for 5 p.m. in Hamlet.
“This next game is the game our guys have been waiting for since we lost to them,” Jones closed. “They’re excited for it.”
