ROCKINGHAM — It was a much needed breather with one game remaining in the regular season.
After losing six of its last seven contests, Richmond Senior was finally on the other side of a blowout in a 71-23 nonconference victory over Flora Macdonald Wednesday night at Raider Gymnasium on Senior Night.
It was the most points Richmond has scored this season. The previous high was 65 in a 15-point win at Purnell Swett on Jan. 4. It was also the fewest points the team has surrendered since Nov. 30, when Richmond defeated Douglas Byrd 62-25.
Three players — all seniors — scored in double figures to lead the way for the Raiders (6-15). Kevyna Stanback made a rare start and netted a season-high 17 points. Kayla Ewing and Shacobi Little both added 12 in the win.
“It was a good win tonight,” Richmond coach Victoria DeFrate said. “It was good to be able to see the seniors score tonight. They have worked so hard this season.”
Stanback opened the contest by draining a 3-point field goal from the left wing to begin the rout. Stanback outscored Flora Macdonald herself in the first quarter — 7-6. The Raiders closed the frame with a 22-6 lead.
Little found her shot in the second quarter, connecting on three 3-point field goals as Richmond stretched its advantage to 38-17 at halftime.
“Everyone contributed tonight,” DeFrate said. “Everyone scored but one person, but everyone contributed.”
Only two players cracked the scoring column for Flora Macdonald, Mikara Smith and Jamie Powers. Smith scored a team-high 12 points, while Powers netted 11. Powers scored on of her points in the first half before leaving the game because of an illness.
Richmond will close out its regular season 6 p.m. Friday when it travels to play Southeastern Conference foe Scotland. The Fighting Scots breezed to a 79-37 win in the first meeting.
Scotland has clinched at least a share of the SEC title and will be the No. 1 seed in next week’s conference tournament. Richmond is a game up on Hoke County in the battle for the No. 4 seed. A win over the Fighting Scots or a loss by the Bucks would guarantee the Raiders the fourth spot in the conference. However, a loss and a Hoke win over Pinecrest would give allow the Bucks to earn the No. 4 seed based on tiebreakers.
— Sports editor Shawn Stinson can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 14, or by email at sstinson@civitasmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @scgolfer.
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