ROCKINGHAM — Senior basketball player Quamir Sivels has been named the ROSports Official Richmond County Male Athlete of the Week (Feb. 24) presented by Moss Brothers Tires & Service.
After seeing the Raiders drop their first two contests against Sandhills Athletic Conference opponent Lumberton High School this season, Sivels stepped up and proved to be a difference maker in Richmond’s upset against the Pirates in the SAC tournament semis.
He was also a contributor in all three of Richmond’s games last week, helping him earn his first career recognition.
Athletic Profile
Age: 17
Birthday: June 11, 2002
Year: Senior
Winter Sport: Basketball
Position: Shooting Guard
Years on Varsity: 2.5 Years
Height & Weight: 5-10, 155 pounds
Experience: 10 Years
“CAREER NIGHT” WITH QUAMIR SIVELS
Sivels has spent the last two seasons helping the Raiders turn around the basketball program under head coach Donald Pettigrew. Although he has battled a lower leg injury that caused him to miss a stretch of games in the middle of the season, Sivels is heating up just ahead of the playoffs.
In the Sandhills Athletic Conference tournament last week, the third-seeded Raiders advanced to the title game for the second season in a row, something Pettigrew attributed to Sivels’ contributions. Despite coming up short to top-seeded Pinecrest, Sivels had a strong run over the tournament.
His best game came when the Raiders rolled into No. 2 Lumberton High School and snapped a two-game skid against the Pirates. Having a career-night, Sivels scored 26 points to lead all scorers. He tallied a 12-for-12 mark at the free throw line, netting six in the fourth quarter to help the Raiders to a 67-54 win.
In the first quarter of the semifinal game, Sivels netted eight points, including two three-pointers.
“They realized I was the shooter early in the game, so I used my pump fake and attacked the basket the whole game,” Sivels said of his scoring outburst. “There were a lot of fouls called and I didn’t miss any free throws.
“I didn’t want to lose, it was as simple as that,” he said of his motivation.
Prior to the win over Lumberton, the Raiders eliminated a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit the night before to defeat No. 6 Purnell Swett by three points. Sivels scored 11 points in that game.
Against the Patriots, Sivels would lead the scoring charge again, netting a team-high 16 points in the loss.
“Quamir came out and played hard for all 32 minutes,” Pettigrew said of Sivels against Lumberton.
Sivels and the No. 13 Raiders (19-8) kickoff the 4A state playoffs on Tuesday at home against No. 20 Butler High School. Tip is set for 6 p.m.
VIDEO INTERVIEW: Click here to hear from Sivels in his video interview.
