ROUND 2 PREVIEW: No. 2 Raiders hoping to sail past No. 15 Riverside-Durham

ROCKINGHAM — A battle of the high seas will take place between the No. 2 Raiders and No. 15 Pirates during Friday’s second round playoff game.

Richmond will continue its quest toward returning to the state championship at home against visiting Riverside-Durham High School in the 4A East postseason.

In what was smooth sailing earlier in the week during the first round of the playoffs, Richmond and head coach Donald Pettigrew used a running clock to defeat No. 31 East Chapel Hill 104-47.

With the team’s expectations set at “running it back” to the state title game, the Raiders are focused on the end goal, while still preparing for one game at a time.

Helping guide the team with their senior leadership, Javian Drake, Paul McNeil Jr. and Jamarion Wall each scored 25+ points in the round one victory.

McNeil Jr. had a game-high 32 points, Drake netted a career-high 30 points and Wall had 25 points. Each hit five three-pointers.

Hoping to lower its magic number to four games before achieving their ultimate goal, the Raiders will tip-off at home at 7:30 p.m.

Below are some fast facts about the Riverside-Durham Pirates:

• The Pirates are coached by Brian Strickland and have won only three of their last five games. The team has recorded a 7-5 record  on the road this season. 
• Riverside-Durham earned a 66-59 victory over No. 18 Apex Friendship High School in the first round.
• During the regular season, the Pirates placed second out of six teams in the 4A DC 6 Conference. They had a 7-4 mark against those teams.
• Riverside-Durham has averaged 56.2 points per game this season, as Richmond is currently scoring 81.4 points a night.
• Defensively, the Pirates are allowing teams to net 51.9 PPG and have won their last three victories by an average of 11.7 points.
• Nine of the 14 players listed on the team’s roster are 6-feet or taller, with a trio of players listed at 6-3 as the tallest.
• Senior Corey Hairston Jr. is the team’s only double-digit scorer, leading the Pirates with 16.8 PPG. 
• Mekhi Sneed (9.2 PPG) and Robert McDonald (8.2 PPG) are other key contributors from the guard position.
• Jaden Butler leads Riverside-Durham with 7.7 rebounds per game and is tied with Sneed for second in steals (1.7 SPG).
• The Pirates have connected on 41% of their field goals this winter, and just 25% of their three-point attempts.

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