ROCKINGHAM — Owen Bowers and Altman Griffin combined for 22 of the Lady Raiders’ 27 kills in Thursday night’s conference match against Hoke County.

“We played like a team tonight,” coach Shellie Wimpey said. “We had good passes, which got us good sets, and we were able to get more kills.”

The Richmond Senior volleyball team only needed three sets (25-16, 25-20, 25-10) to defeat the Lady Bucks, after falling in three at West Montgomery on Tuesday.

Wimpey wasn’t satisfied with the way her team played earlier in the week, but she understood the importance of learning from the loss and moving forward.

“After Tuesday, I just told them they needed to let it go,” Wimpey added. “We started conference and it was going to be do or die.”

Richmond took a 6-0 lead to start the second set, before a timeout from the Hoke sideline brought the action to a halt. The Lady Raiders would extend their lead to 12 points, but the Lady Bucks fought their way back into the game — cutting their deficit to just four points.

Three kills from Griffin would end the set, however.

Hoke got off to a fast start in the third and final set, but struggled to score any points once Richmond tied it up at 8-8. The Lady Bucks called two timeouts, but they had no answer for the Lady Raiders’ overwhelming performance from.

“I’m expecting us to be in the top (in conference),” Wimpey said. “If we play like we’re supposed to play, I think we’ll be No. 1.”

The junior varsity volleyball team also won Thursday evening. Alexis Swiney led the way with seven digs, five kills and two aces in Richmond’s 2-0 win.

SOUTH VIEW NO MATCH FOR RICHMOND

HOPE MILLS — Both the junior varsity and varsity boys soccer teams dominated their respective matches at South View on Thursday evening.

The JV team shut out the Tigers 9-0, while the varsity Raiders took an 8-3 decision in Hope Mills.

Playing two days in a row didn’t seem to hurt the production of Alex Alvarado, as the senior midfielder scored four goals on the night — after finding the net twice against St. Pauls the night before.

Carlos Alacacor (two), Max Diaz and Carson Leviner scored the other four goals for the Raiders. Alvarado, Carter Roberson and Victor Lucero each recorded an assist on the night.

“I’m very pleased to go 6-2 against non-conference opponents,” coach Bennie Howard said. “We’ve got good momentum going into conference.”

Howard promised the Raiders a day off if they got back-to-back wins this week.

“I’m a man of my word,” Howard added. “We’ve got Friday off and we’ll come back on Monday and get ready for our first conference match against Hoke.”

Both Richmond teams will face off against Hoke County next Wednesday, Sept. 14, at home — JV begins at 5:30 p.m.

DON’T CALL IT A COMEBACK

ROCKINGHAM — The Richmond junior varsity football team battled is way back from a third-quarter deficit to claim a 24-16 victory over the visting Butler Bulldogs on Thursday.

With the team trailing 16-7, Dereck Barringer intercepted a pass from Butler’s Nyzaiah King and gave the Raiders the spark they had been looking for all night.

On the Raiders’ first play of the ensuing offensive possession, Jada Edwards connected downfield with Jordyn Wall for the much-needed score.

A field goal gave the Raiders a 17-16 lead in the fourth quarter, but Edwards put the game out of reach when he found Corey Johnson on a fourth-dwon screen pass with a little over two minutes to go in the game.

NGA FALLS AT HOKE

RAEFORD — A last-second touchdown from Hoke County spoiled the Ninth-Grade Academy football team’s chance at its first win of the season.

With the game tied at 18-18, the Bucks would find the end zone on the ground and walk away with 24-18 victory Thursday afternoon.

Tashawn Wall (two scores) and LaCyrus Ellerbe (one score) were responsible for the Raiders’ 18 points on the day.

Next Thursday, Sept. 15, the Ninth-Grade Academy hosts Pinecrest at 4 p.m.

Reach sports editor Leon Hargrove Jr. at 910-817-2673 and follow the sports section on Twitter @RCDailySports.

Leon Hargrove Jr. | Daily Journal
Richmond Senior’s Amia Pemberton and Trinity Stanley jump up to contest a hit from Hoke County. The Lady Raiders would grab a 3-0 victory over the Lady Bucks on Thursday.
https://www.yourdailyjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/web1_web.jpgLeon Hargrove Jr. | Daily Journal
Richmond Senior’s Amia Pemberton and Trinity Stanley jump up to contest a hit from Hoke County. The Lady Raiders would grab a 3-0 victory over the Lady Bucks on Thursday.
Richmond dominates Hoke in first conference game

By Leon Hargrove Jr.

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