ROCKINGHAM — The game between Richmond and Hoke was all anyone could ask for between two teams battling to stay in the conference title race.
With Scotland and Pinecrest leading the way in the conference with one loss apiece, it was a must-win for Richmond and Hoke, who each had two conference losses. In the end, it was Hoke earning the crucial victory, defeating the Raiders 104-92.
It’s the second straight game in which the Raiders have given up triple digits. They lost to Cheraw 113-105 on Wednesday.
Richmond dominated the first two periods courtesy of Jaylan Terry’s explosive 19-point performance and Leon Zeigler’s four 3-pointers. The Raiders led by as many as 16 in the first half and took a comfortable 51-37 lead into the break.
That’s when the Raiders went from hot to ice cold. After intermission, it took just five and half minutes for the Bucks to erase Richmond’s lead. Two Devin Norwood free throws gave Hoke a 65-64 lead with 2:39 remaining in the third quarter, and the Bucks would never trail again.
Hoke’s Silas Love took advantage of every Raider miscue, netting 14 of his 33 points in the third-quarter run. Love was the game’s leading scorer. Terry and Zeigler, who were limited to just 12 points combined in the second half, finished with 26 and 21 respectively for the Raiders.
As the Bucks continued to pull away, JJ Ingram tried to keep Richmond’s hopes alive, scoring 16 second-half points — but his efforts were not enough.
The Raiders (11-8, 3-3) return to action on Tuesday when they travel to Purnell Swett. The Raiders scored a combined 245 points in their first two meetings with the Rams.
Lady Raiders fall to Bucks
In the first meeting between Richmond and Hoke, the Lady Bucks used a 21-1 run in the second and third quarters to run away with a 60-45 win. The Lady Raiders put up more of a fight Friday night, but fell to Hoke 45-37.
Thanks to a much-improved defensive performance, combined with Zelda McLaughlin and Deon Everette netting 10 points each, the Lady Raiders put themselves into position to pull off a key conference victory. At the end of the third quarter, the game was all knotted up at 33-all.
That’s when it all fell apart. The entire team struggled to find the net in the fourth quarter. McLaughlin and Everette were held scoreless and the Lady Raiders as a team were limited to just 4 points, all made from the free throw line.
Daisha Little was the game’s leading scorer with 12 for Hoke.
The Lady Raiders (5-10, 1-5) will face Purnell Swett in Pembroke on Tuesday. Richmond’s only conference win came over the Lady Rams.