CAMERON — The winning streak continued and reached 11 straight games Tuesday for the Richmond Senior High School boys’ basketball team.
Ending their two-game regular-season series on the road at Union Pines High School, the Raiders relied on a quartet of double-digit scorers to cruise to an 86-65 win.
Netting its second-highest single-game total in points this season, Richmond shot 34-of-68 from the field and was led by Jayden Hamilton’s 24 points. He finished the game 10-of-15 from the floor (67%) with three three-pointers.
Also reaching double figures were Amer Morrison (14 points, 6-of-8), Ahaiver McDonald (13 points, 4-of-13) and Domonic Tillman (12 points, 5-of-7).
Five other Raiders scored Tuesday. Chance Crowder had nine points, Keyonta Davis scored eight points, Tyshawn Harris netted a field goal and Davion Ingram scored one free throw.
Fouled as regulation expired, senior Zyonn Mason scored all three of his points from the line as fans filed out.
A couple of early lead changes in the first quarter resulted in a 23-15 lead for the Raiders after the opening eight minutes. Hamilton and Tillman had early field goals and McDonald got on the board with a free throw to make it a 6-5 deficit.
That shot from McDonald started a 9-2 stretch that featured two field goals from Hamilton, and one each from Tillman and McDonald. A 13-8 lead for Richmond resulted in a timeout by Union Pines.
Both teams traded buckets for the final 3:20, starting with a jumper from McDonald. Morrison, one of five Raiders to score in the first, sandwiched a three-pointer and a shot under the hoop around a baseline jumper from Davis.
A final free throw by McDonald with 8.1 seconds left made it an eight-point lead for Richmond.
Hamilton had eight points in the second quarter to bring his halftime total to 14 points. Both Crowder and Morrison chipped in seven points before the break and Tillman scored a bucket.
A drive and a three-ball from Crowder made it an 11-point lead and Morrison netted a transition bucket to give the Raiders a 30-17 advantage.
With 5:11 to go before the break, Hamilton started a 17-10 run with a three-pointer from near the middle of the arc. He also ended the run with another trey, this one from the left corner with two seconds remaining.
Between those two shots from distance, Tillman, Crowder and Hamilton each recorded a bucket. Morrison built the halftime lead to 47-30 courtesy of a three-ball and a shot under the rim.
Union Pines (12-8, 3-5 SAC) outscored Richmond 27-23 in a high-scoring third quarter. Helping give the Raiders their largest lead of the game, 23 points, were Hamilton and McDonald.
Contributing to an 8-2 run to start the quarter, Hamilton scored off an inbound pass and followed with a transition bucket that was assisted on a behind-the-back bounce pass from McDonald. A free throw and a triple from McDonald made it 55-32.
A 10-0 run by Union Pines was stopped by Davis, who found his stride with a pull-up jumper with 4:20 to play. Richmond’s next two points were also on a Davis jumper, this one off the glass.
Trading baskets with the Vikings, a close-range shot apiece from Crowder, Davis and Tillman maintained a 65-48 lead. McDonald splashed down his second and final triple from the left corner and Tillman was true on two free throws to carry a 70-57 lead into the fourth.
Six different players scored for Richmond to help put the game away. Hamilton recorded his final six points on an old-fashioned three-point play and his final three-pointer.
Morrison and Tillman each had a field goal, while Ingram connected on a free throw. Head coach Donald Pettigrew cleared the bench in the final minutes, which led to a putback by Harris and Mason’s three free throws.
The Raiders (12-7, 7-2 SAC) will host Lee County High School (8-9, 3-4 SAC) Friday to wrap the regular-season series. The game will start at 7:30 p.m.
Sports editor’s note: Statistics provided by assistant coach Keith Parsons.
