The Raiders’ boys’ basketball team poses with the trophy after winning the 9 Dimes Fall League tournament Saturday.
                                 Contributed Photo

The Raiders’ boys’ basketball team poses with the trophy after winning the 9 Dimes Fall League tournament Saturday.

Contributed Photo

FAYETTEVILLE — A team comprised of Richmond Senior High School boys’ basketball players captured the championship title of the inaugural 9 Dime Fall League tournament Saturday.

The Raiders drew additional motivation from playing for fallen teammate Jalen David, who died at the end of August.

“Jalen was more than a teammate, he was our brother,” said senior forward Nygie Stroman. “When we lost him, it hit us all hard, and it gave us a reason to go even harder. We know he’s watching over us so we just want to make him proud.”

The Raiders, who earned a top seed in the tournament thanks to an 8-1 record in league play, defeated second-seeded Westside 68-52 in the championship game.

Stroman added that the Raiders were one of the only teams in the tournament not from the Fayetteville area, but that they knew the competition in the league was strong. He said they approached every game with an underdog mentality.

Head coach Maurice McLaurin said the team was ready for the title game from the onset.

“We came out ready,” McLaurin said. “We jumped out to a big lead, but we kind of got a little lackadaisical at the end of the first quarter. But, from the end of the first quarter on, our guys just put the clamps down and pretty much just ran them out of the gym.”

David’s passing will continue to provide motivation and be on the minds of the players and coaches as they prepare for high school basketball season, which is scheduled to start at the beginning of January.

The team’s success in the tournament provides a big confidence boost for the Raiders going forward, according to Stroman.

“The confidence is going to be big for them,” McLaurin said. “That confidence is going to help them through whatever cheap trials and anything that we go through. It gives them the confidence, going into the season, that we’re going to be a very good team. It shows them that putting in hard work and going out with a determination and wanting to do something shows that you can do it.”

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Reach Neel Madhavan at 910-817-2671 ext. 2751 or [email protected]. Follow on Twitter at @NeelMadhavan.