ROCKINGHAM — Coming off a fifth-place finish last year, Richmond Senior boys basketball travels to Gastonia on Thursday hoping for better results in this year’s Ashbrook Holiday Hoopfest.
Richmond (7-0) coach Donald Pettigrew likes the atmosphere of the event and says it allows his group to get used to a “playoff atmosphere” they will experience in a couple of months.
“We are so excited…I think we’re going to be primed, ready to play,” said Pettigrew. “Our vets know what to expect this year and we’re going to try to win it this year…show that we can compete with anybody in the state.”
The Raiders boast a veteran core, featuring 6-foot-6 bigs Nygie Stroman and Jarvis Tillman.
Stroman leads the team in scoring with just over 14 points per contest, while averaging eight rebounds. Tillman is an imposing defensive anchor, swatting a team-high 4.4 blocks per game and pulling down just over 10 rebounds.
Meanwhile, senior guards P.J. McLaughlin and Quamir Sivels provide outside shooting and playmaking, combining for nearly 20 points per game.
Pettigrew welcomed four late additions to his group in the past week as the school’s football team finally concluded its playoff run. He says the add-ons have aided the squad’s depth, especially on the boards, powered by athletic forwards Jakolbe Baldwin and Dalton Stroman.
“When Jarvis and Nygie go out, we don’t lose much on the offensive end as far as rebounding,” said Pettigrew.
Stroman and Baldwin have combined for 9.3 rebounds per contest in three games thus far. Meanwhile, returning starter Caleb Hood is also among the late arrivals, providing the group with 4.7 rebounds and above-the-rim plays from the wing position.
Hood was key in the team’s overtime road win over Cheraw last week, notching a game-high 18 points. The Raiders trailed by five points with just over a minute remaining, but Pettigrew was impressed with the group’s poise and control down the stretch.
“Building —you’re going to have some adversity, and we’ve seen some on the road, which is good,” said Pettigrew.
McLaughlin has taken a leadership role as a two-year starter and was in line with his coach about the battle-tested road performances this year.
“It just let us know we don’t get down or give up on each other until it’s 0.0 on the clock, and that’s what we did,” he said.
Now, the focus shifts to a pressure-packed tournament against some of the best competition the Raiders have faced this season.
Richmond opens the weekend with a first-round matchup against Weddington (8-2), headed by 6’4 point guard Chase Lowe. Lowe leads the Warriors in points (16.0) rebounds (8.8) assists (4.5) and steals (2.3). He posted back-to-back outings with 20 or more points in wins over Sun Valley and Charlotte Catholic.
Another team in the field of eight that is poised to make a run to Saturday’s title game is Vance (7-1), led by forward Thomas Townes. He is one of four Cougars averaging more than 10 points per contest and is the only member averaging a double-double.
“We can’t go up there playing around. Everybody got to be ready to play and having one mindset,” McLaughlin said of the team’s mentality heading into the event.
The Raiders’ matchup with Weddington is set for a 3 p.m. tip off on Thursday.
