ROCKINGHAM — Trying to erase a second-half deficit after leading at halftime, the Richmond Senior High School junior varsity boys’ basketball team lost by a point Tuesday.
Continuing Mid-South Conference play, the JV Raiders hosted Overhills High School. A two-point lead at the break didn’t hold, as Richmond lost 60-59.
The JV Raiders held a five-point lead after the first and entered the locker room up 27-25. But a three-point advantage by the JV Jaguars in the third proved to be enough for the away team.
In the final quarter, Richmond put the pressure on to try and retake the lead, but even scoring by both squads didn’t allow the JV Raiders to pull ahead before the final buzzer.
A total of nine players scored for the JV Raiders, who were led by Xander Chavis (13 points) and Jimmy Tillman (10 points). Almost in double figures were William Bryant (8 points), Cameron Everett (7 points) and Zymere Gillespie (7 points).
Others to find the basket were Devin Haynes and LaTavian Watkins (4 points each), and Jazari Dawkins and Jayden Scire (3 points each).
Richmond opened the game to a 13-8 lead after the first quarter. Chavis had his first seven points on a three-pointer and two field goals.
A basket each from Tillman, Everett and Gillespie added six more points to help maintain the early advantage.
Overhills used a 17-14 run in the second quarter to cut Richmond’s lead to 27-25 at halftime.
Bryant and Dawkins each scored a three-pointer to lead the team in scoring. Combining for six points on field goals were Tillman, Everett and Gilespie. Haynes netted two points from the free throw line.
Another close quarter in the third saw the JV Jaguars go on a 19-16 run and take a one point lead, 44-43, into the final quarter.
Hitting a pair of field goals each were Chavis and Tillman, who combined for eight points. Scire scored his points on a shot from beyond the arc and Bryant made a basket and later added a field goal. Watkins was good for a basket to keep Richmond within a possession.
The JV Raiders and JV Jaguars both netted 16 points in the closing eight minutes, resulting in no final lead change for Richmond.
Gillespie’s three-pointer led the team, while Everett also scored three points thanks to a free throw and a bucket.
Adding a basket apiece were Haynes, Chavis, Tillman and Watkins, with Bryant adding the team’s other two points in the quarter from the line.
The JV Raiders (4-11, 2-5 MSC) travel to Pinecrest High School Friday for another conference game. Action will start at 6 p.m.
