Kyle A. Pillar – Sports Editor
ST. PAULS — An early-season slide continued for the Richmond Senior High School girls’ basketball team Thursday.
Losing their third straight game, the Lady Raiders were officially eliminated from the Robeson County Shootout consolation bracket.
Playing Purnell Swett High School at St. Pauls High School, Richmond suffered a 46-38 loss to the Lady Rams. It was the Lady Raiders’ second loss in two games to start the holiday tournament.
Again playing without starting point guard Jasiah Gilchrist for the third straight game due to illness, head coach Taneika Reader said Richmond’s inability to step up and fill the scoring void is what hurt the team.
Senior J’Nasia Neal had a team-high 11 points and junior forward Madisen Jackson, who played out of position to run the point, netted nine points.
Junior Kaniah Little added six points, freshman Amiah Streeter scored five points, freshman Amonie McNeil had three points and juniors Iyana Little and Armoni Walden each had two points.
The Lady Rams (7-2) outscored Richmond 13-5 in the first quarter. McNeil had all three of her points on a bucket and a foul shot. Jackson had the other two points on her first field goal.
Another low-scoring quarter in the second yielded a 22-11 lead for Purnell Swett at halftime. Combining for Richmond’s six points were Jackson (three-pointer), Walden (field goal) and Walden (free throw).
Out of the intermission, the Lady Raiders had their best scoring quarter of the game in the third, outscoring the Lady Rams by six points to make it a 29-33 deficit.
Using a 12-7 run in the third, Richmond was led in scoring by Neal and Streeter, both of whom scored their first five points. Neal had two buckets and a free throw, while Streeter made a bucket and three shots from the line.
A free throw apiece from Iyana Little and Kaniah Little made it a two-possession game heading into the fourth.
Keeping pace with the Lady Rams, Richmond made a push in the final eight minutes but was outdone on a 17-15 run. Neal had the final six of her 11 second-half points on a three-ball and three free throws.
Jackson and Kaniah Little both knocked in a pair of baskets for four points each and the scoring came to an end when Iyana Little made a free throw.
The Lady Raiders (4-4) return to the court Dec. 27 to face Rockingham County High School (6-1) as part of the Carolina Christmas Classic. The game will be played at Northwest Guilford High School and start at 11:30 a.m.