ROCKINGHAM — Before the season started, Richmond Senior girls basketball coach Victoria DeFrate kept stressing defense, defense, defense.
Her team paid attention.
Richmond limited Douglas Byrd to one field goal in the first and third quarters en route to a 62-25 nonconference victory Friday night at Raider Gymnasium.
“I was excited to see improvement from Tuesday,” DeFrate said. “The girls are starting to see that our defense creates offense. Your shot may be off, but you can rely on your defense.”
The Raiders (2-0) used their defense to hold the Eagles without a basket until Audraya Doyle scored with 6.4 seconds remaining in the first period. The long drought allowed Richmond to build a 15-5 advantage.
After extending the lead to 35-13 at halftime, the Raiders limited the visitors to two points in the third quarter — a putback by Doyle at the 3:07 mark.
“After Tuesday’s game I asked the girls what they thought they needed to improve on,” DeFrate said. “I could see the enthusiasm in the next practices. They are beginning to see the things they have to do that us coaches have been harping on in practice.”
Just like its season-opening win at South Robeson, only one player scored in double figures for Richmond — Shaquail Wall with 16. Cherie Ellerbe added nine points in the victory.
Doyle led the way for Douglas Byrd with eight.
The Raiders will return to action 6 p.m. Tuesday when they travel to Cheraw, S.C.
— Sports editor Shawn Stinson can be reached at 910-997-3111, ext. 14, or by email at sstinson@heartlandpublications.com.
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