CAMERON — Getting back into a groove on Tuesday, the Richmond Senior High School boys’ junior varsity basketball team earned a double-digit win over Union Pines.
After a loss last week and a comeback win over Hoke County, the JV Raiders rolled past the JV Vikings 60-40.
A pair of freshmen paced the JV Raiders in scoring, including Raymond Knotts’ game-high 25 points. He knocked down five three-pointers and balanced his scoring with 12 points in the first half and 13 points in the second half.
Keidreion Crump scored 10 points for the JV Raiders, hitting two three-pointers and scoring five points in each half.
Seven other players scored for Richmond, which utilized its depth off the bench to cruise past the JV Vikings.
Freshman Gage Stewart netted 6 points in the win, rattling home a pair of triples in the second and third quarters. Fellow freshman Jarah Cook also scored 6 points, all coming in the second half.
Sophomore Toby McInnis and freshman Keyonta Davis both finished with 4 points, freshman Ahaiver McDonald scored 3 points and Jason Walker and Jada Zimmerman each connected on one free throw.
“Being that we hadn’t played Union Pines this season, we were excited going into this one,” head coach Kenta Hutchinson said. “Conference road games are always tough to win and their guys wanted to win on their home floor just as we expect to do. We knew we would have to steal one.
“We came out flat and we can’t give teams false hope on the road,” he added. “They hung around early, competing and playing hard. Going into the game, I spoke with Raymond and told him he had to be better going forward. When he gets it going and his confidence is high, we are a very successful team.”
Richmond started the game on a 12-9 run after the first quarter. Knotts got started with five fast points and Crump added a three-pointer. Also scoring one field goal apiece were Davis and McInnis.
A 16-10 stretch in the second gave the JV Raiders a 28-19 lead going into the break. Adding seven more points was Knotts, Stewart hit his first three-ball and Crump and McInnis both scored a field goal.
Zimmerman added a point and McDonald also connected on a free throw before the break.
The difference maker in the game was the third quarter for Richmond, which scored 21 points in the eight-minute period. Two threes and two field goals from Knotts gave him 10 more points, Stewart scored his final three-pointer and four other players had two points.
Heading into the fourth, the JV Raiders held a 49-27 lead. Eleven more points in the final period secured the win, including four from Cook.
“Starting the second half, we wanted to pressure the ball more and get our hands in the passing lanes,” Hutchinson explained. “Our success in the second half started on defense by doing the little things we know to do.
“We are just trying to finish out the season strong. I was glad to see everybody who played scored, which was a first for us this season.”
The JV Raiders (9-5, 5-2 SAC) will play at Southern Lee High School on Tuesday, the first of a tripleheader including the varsity teams. Play will begin at 4:30 p.m.
