After a less than impressive effort in the season opener against Lumberton last week, Raider Gold freshman girls basketball coach Darrell Wright took his team back to the gym to work on the fundamentals.

The back-to-basics approach paid dividends Monday night as the Lady Raiders defeated Pinecrest, 34-19 at the Richmond Ninth Grade Academy gymnasium.

Wright was especially pleased wiith his team’s effort on defense, as the Lady Raiders employed a half-court trap to force a number of Pinecrest turnovers.

Raider Gold was able to convert many of those turnovers into points.

“We played much better tonight,” Wright said.

The Lady Raiders (1-1) got out to an 8-2 lead. They never trailed in the contest.

Raider Gold especially turned up the offensive heat in the second quarter, when the Lady Raiders held the Patroits scoreless.

Michelle Covington led the Lady Raiders with 15 points. Ceandra McDonald added six.

Raider Gold’s girls return to action on Thursday when the Lady Raiders will travel to Purnell Swett. Tipoff is slated for 4:30 p.m.

Pinecrest 52, Raider Gold boys 39

Later, the Raider Gold boys fell to the Patriots after being tied at haltime.

The Raiders (1-1) led for much of the first half, getting out to a 17-10 advantage at one point.

But Pinecrest scratched its way back into the contest, closing the second quarter with a 9-2 run to tie the contest as the two teams headed to the locker room for intermission.

Pinecrest opened the third stanza with a 10-4 run and never looked back.

Raider Gold cut the Pinecrest lead to four at several points in the second half, but was able to get no closer.

Robert Williams and C.J. Lyons led the Raiders with 15 points apiece.

The Raider Gold boys also travel to Purnell Swett on Thursday for a 6 p.m. game.



Contact sports editor David Vantress at 997-3111, ext. 14, or via email at dvantress@yourdailyjournal.com.