ROCKINGHAM — As ROSports begins the final four spots in our third annual Top 10 Sports Story countdown from the past school year, some of the selections may be more recognizable by sports fans in Richmond County.
With a limited amount of spring sports played this year, and no moments making the list, the No. 4 Top Sports Story finds itself back on the Richmond Senior High School boys’ basketball court.
The Raider basketball team was featured earlier in the countdown as the No. 8 story when it returned to the Sandhills Athletic Conference tournament championship game for the second straight season.
That tournament was near the end of the season in February, and the No. 4 story shifts its focus to the beginning of the 2019-2020 slate in November and December.
Under the direction of third-year head coach Donald Pettigrew, the Raiders made quick work during their first eight games, winning all of them.
The 8-0 run to begin the season proved to be the program’s third best start in its 47-year history. The only other teams to have better starts were the 2003-2004 Raiders who started 11-0, and the 2011-2012 team (10-0).
It was also Pettigrew’s best start during his coaching tenure.
During the span of games between Nov. 19 and Dec. 26, the Raiders outscored their opponents 510-372 and picked up an average margin of victory of 17.4 points per game.
Led by a healthy crew including seniors Quamir Sivels and Jarvis Tillman, and juniors PJ McLaughlin, Caleb Hood, Dylan Lewis and Nygie Stroman, Richmond swept Anson High School to begin the season, routing the Bearcats by 36 points in the opener.
Following a win over Southern Lee High School, the Raiders defeated SAC opponent Purnell Swett High School by 27 points to improve to 4-0. Next was non-conference Cheraw High School, a win of 40 points, 81-41, which proved to be the largest win during the stretch.
The final three wins to begin the year were all much closer, starting with a 53-50 win over rival Pinecrest High School at home on Dec. 13. Following that, Richmond held off a late charge by Cheraw and won in overtime 67-65 on the road four nights later.
To cap the historic run, Pettigrew and company knocked off Weddington High School by six points in the opening round of the Ashbrook Holiday Hoopfest the day after Christmas.
Below is the link to game story following the win over Weddington, written by sports editor Kyle Pillar for the Dec. 27, 2020 edition of the Richmond Observer:
