SPRING LAKE — Bouncing back from a conference road loss to end last week, the Richmond Senior High School boys’ basketball team picked up a pivotal conference road victory Tuesday.
Completing the regular-season sweep of Overhills High School, the Raiders more importantly retook sole possession of first place in the Mid-South Conference standings.
Entering the night tied with the Jaguars with matching 4-2 MSC records, the Raiders used a balanced scoring effort to notch a 62-55 win.
Head coach Donald Pettigrew said the team responded to its loss Friday at Hoke County by having a better first half Tuesday.
“We had a discussion after the loss (at Hoke County) about fixing our attitude as a team and being a stronger first-half team,” Pettigrew said. “Playing on the road, especially against a conference opponent, is never easy no matter a team’s record. Tonight had more importance because we were tied with (Overhills).
“The guys did a better job in the first half, which is something that we haven’t done well in our last two games,” he added. “I told them if we can control the tempo early on we can set the pace for the whole game without having to play from behind. It was a better effort tonight.”
Four Raiders finished in double digits on the scoreboard – sophomore Donovan Jones (16 points), senior Amer Morrison (12 points), senior Jayden Hamilton (11 points) and senior Domonic Tillman (10 points).
Freshman Cam’ron Coley chipped in six points, junior Chance Crowder scored five points and sophomore Kerick Hairston Jr. netted two points.
The Raiders outscored the Jaguars (11-10, 4-3 MSC) 15-13 in a close first quarter. Morrison, who did all of his scoring in the first half, netted a bulk of them in the opening quarter. He sank a pair of three-pointers and two field goals for 10 points.
Helping give the Raiders the early advantage were Hamilton and Coley, who scored a three-pointer and a bucket, respectively.
Using a 14-7 run in the second quarter, Richmond extended its lead to 29-20 going into halftime.
Four players scored in the second for the Raiders, who were led by Jones’ first six points on three field goals. Tillman joined the scoring with a pair of baskets for his first four points, and Morrison and Hairston Jr. each netted a bucket.
Both teams found a scoring rhythm in the third stanza, as the Jaguars closed their deficit to seven points, 45-38.
Hamilton was responsible for six of Richmond’s 16 points in the quarter thanks to two baskets and two made free throws. Crowder knocked down a triple and added a field goal for all five of his points.
Coley made a basket and later made one of two shots from the charity stripe for three more points. Jones had the other two points for the team in the third from the floor.
Trading points in the final stanza, the Raiders and Jaguars each scored 17 points in the closing eight minutes. Taking over the lane, Jones doubled his scoring to that point in the game with his final eight points, which were courtesy of four baskets.
Down low, Tillman got to work and helped keep Richmond ahead with three buckets and his final six points. The Raiders’ scoring was rounded out by two free throws by Hamilton and another from Coley.
The Raiders (15-6, 5-2 MSC) host Pinecrest High School (7-11, 3-2 MSC) Friday at 7:30 p.m. It will also be senior night for the team’s four senior players, who will be recognized before tip-off.
