Richmond Freshman Girls Rally Late to Top Patriots

February 6, 2010

Pinecrest High School


Kadijah Harrington was the hero for the Richmond Green freshmen girls basketball team Wednesday.

Harrington, who scored eight points, rattled in a game-winning 3-pointer from the top of the key with 25.8 seconds remaining, allowing Richmond to prevail with a slim 38-36 victory.

The win snapped the Green team girls’ three-game losing snap, and improved the team’s mark to 6-3 on the season.

“That was big by Kadijah to step up and hit that shot,” Green team girls coach Phillip Waddell said.

“To be honest, I thought the girls had run out of steam. In our past three losses, teams have come from behind and beaten us.”

The Green team led 33-25 at the end of the third quarter, but Richmond went cold from the floor in the fourth. Pinecrest took advantage as Kenya Hannah capped a 11-2 Lady Pats’ run with a jumper, giving the Lady Pats’ a 36-35 lead with 41.0 seconds remaining.

“I put in a smaller lineup, and they exploited us with their size down low,” Waddell said.

“They out-rebounded us and got some second shots.”

Pinecrest had a chance to tie the game at the foul line with 9.6 seconds remaining, but the Lady Patriots missed both charity tosses.

A four-game losing streak appeared on the horizon for the Green team until Harrington’s heroics saved the Green team from another defeat.

Damajah Underwood paced the Green team with a game-high 17 points, while Heather Locklear added 11 points, including three 3-pointers.

“This win was big because we were able to get that monkey off our back, and this should allow the girls to regain their confidence,” Waddell said.

Pinecrest led 10-8 at the end of the first quarter. But Richmond outscored the Lady Pats 9-3 in the second to take a 19-13 advantage into the half.

“We picked up our defensive intensity, and held them to one shot,” Waddell said. “We were able to get in transition and get some fastbreak layups.”

In the third, the Green team built it largest lead at 12, 29-17 on Harrington’s transiton layup with 4:01 left in the quarter.

Richmond took a eight-point lead into the final frame.

Tiara Reaves led the way for Pinecrest with nine points, while Yuquasha Williams added eight points.

The Green team girls hosts Hoke today at the Ninth Grade Gymnasium. Tipoff is set for 4:30 p.m.