ROCKINGHAM — It had been a week since the Richmond Senior High School girls’ junior varsity basketball team had hit the hardwood when it hosted Purnell Swett on Friday.
Kicking off the second round of Sandhills Athletic Conference play, the Lady Raiders earned another win and returned to the .500 mark against conference opponents.
Using double-digit scoring performances from freshmen C’Nedra Hinson and Nyla Stroman, Richmond held on late to defeat the Lady Rams 50-48. The win split the regular-season series with the Lady Rams, avenging a 42-22 loss from earlier in the season.
Hinson would net a game-high 14 points, scoring eight points in the first half. Stroman was strong in the final two quarters, netting all 11 of her points in the second half. She hit a pair of threes to lead the team from beyond the arc.
Also contributing to the two-point win were freshmen Joy Styles and EJ Davis, who put up eight and seven points, respectively. Adding five more points was sophomore Raven Robinson.
“C’Nedra came out hot from the start and she did it all, offense and defense,” head coach Demi Watkins said. “Nyla stepped up with big threes when we needed it. EJ was amazing on both ends of the floor and scored big-time baskets.
“Everyone put in a maximum effort,” she added.
Purnell Swett took a one-point lead, 14-13, into the start of the second quarter after both teams had a productive first stanza. For the Lady Raiders, Hinson led the way with her first five points, connecting on a field goal and three free throws.
Styles wasn’t far behind with four points, and Davis added a basket while sophomore Daniah McDonald drained two free throws.
Richmond flipped the one-point advantage by outscoring Purnell Swett by two points in the second. Helping the Lady Raiders score eight points was Raven Robinson, who connected on a three-pointer.
Hinson matched those three points with a drive and a free throw, and McDonald and Da’Veah Robinson each knocked in a free throw. At the break, the home team led 21-20.
Richmond’s highest scoring quarter came in the third, putting 15 points on the board. Hinson remained constant with five more points on a pair of field goals and a foul shot, and Stroman got her scoring started with a field goal and a late three-pointer.
Davis returned to the scoring sheet with three more points, and one free throw each from Raven and Da’Veah Robinson gave the Lady Raiders a 36-31 lead heading into the final eight minutes.
Purnell Swett would make things interesting by putting up 17 points to Richmond’s 14, but it wasn’t enough to complete the sweep. Stroman connected for her final six points, splashing in a three-pointer and adding a bucket and a free throw.
Styles, who was quiet since the first quarter, returned with four more points. Helping ice the win down the stretch was Davis with a bucket, and one free throw apiece from Hinson and Raven Robinson.
“Coaching wise, we used different tactics to keep Purnell out of a groove and it worked,” Watkins explained. “Assistant coach Tonia Breeden and I really work well together and collaborated on ideas to for us to pull out this win.
“The girls did what we asked and played their hearts out,” she closed. “They really fought for the win. It felt amazing to beat a good team, especially a team we lost to by 20 points last time. It means we’re growing and getting better.”
Richmond (6-6, 4-4 SAC) will host conference foe Pinecrest High School on Tuesday at 5 p.m.
