SANFORD — The Richmond Senior High School boys’ basketball team rebounded from a loss to start the weekend with a win Saturday.
Playing their second game in under a 24-hour period, the Raiders took care of business in the Hoopsville MLK Classic at Lee County High School.
Taking part in the holiday tournament, Richmond faced a familiar opponent and returned to the win column.
Meeting Westover High School for the second time this season, the Raiders defeated the Wolverines 66-45. The 21-point win was their second against Westover this season.
Helping the Raiders to the win was a 26-point second quarter coupled with a single-game career-high 20 points from sophomore wing Kerick Hairston Jr.
Hot from downtown, Hairston Jr. netted six three-pointers to go along with two free throws. Five of those triples came in the pull-away second quarter.
Senior Jayden Hamilton and junior Chance Crowder each finished with 9 points. Hamilton had all of his points in the first half and Crowder connected for a trio of three-balls in the final two quarters.
Also finishing with nine points was freshman Cam’ron Coley. Seven of his points came in the first half.
Sophomore Donovan Jones added eight points, splitting it evenly with two field goals each in the first and fourth quarters. Finding the hoop for seven points was senior Amer Morrison, who also had one of the team’s 11 total three-pointers.
Richmond’s final two scorers were senior Domonic Tillman and junior Josiah Brewington, both of whom had two points apiece.
The Raiders led 13-10 after the first quarter. With the boost of Hairston Jr.’s five three-pointers in the second, Richmond went on a 26-11 run to take a 39-21 lead into the half.
Westover outscored Richmond by a point, 13-12, in the third. A 15-10 scoring stretch for the Raiders in the final eight minutes closed out the win.
Improving to 11-5 this season, the Raiders (1-1 MSC) will host two Mid-South Conference games this week. Up first is a meeting with Hoke County Tuesday, followed by Overhills Friday. Both games will start at 7:30 p.m.
Sports editor’s note: Statistics and game information provided by head coach Donald Pettigrew.
