Needing a win to reach the .500 level in January for the first time in four years, Richmond Hill’s boys couldn’t get over the hump Saturday afternoon as they dropped a 55-44 decision to visiting Colquitt County.
After trailing by as many as 11 points early in the second quarter the Wildcats (6-8, 1-1) had battled back to forge a 44-44 tie with 4:48 to play only to go cold offensively in the Region 1-6A game. The loss came on the heels of a dramatic 49-47 win over Valdosta on Friday night as Richmond Hill opened region play.
The loss to Colquitt was a bitter pill to swallow for Coach Bill Henderson’s team which is fighting its way out of a tailspin which has seen the program go 21-70 over the last four seasons after going 77-33 in the preceding four.
Josh Scott had provided the dramatics against Valdosta as he hit the game winner—the ball was still in the air when the clock showed 0:00-- at the buzzer to set off a wild celebration and provide a glimmer of hope going into the Colquitt game.
Both games were typical of the type of game Richmond Hill has been involved in this season: white knucklers that aren’t decided until the closing minutes. The games have evoked memories of the 2020 team—AKA the Cardiac Cats—which, while posting a 24-5 mark, had 15 games decided by nine or fewer points. The four losses came by six, five and three points (three times).
Against Valdosta, for example, the Wildcats trailed by two points (37-35) going into the fourth quarter but rallied down the stretch to set the stage for Scott’s heroics. Scott finished with 11 points, all coming in the second half, seven in the fourth quarter. Drew Nudo added eight points and Amari Jordan seven.
Valdosta and Colquitt both showed Wildcats fans what Henderson’s team has to deal with on a nightly basis since moving into Region 1-6A. Renowned as a football region its basketball teams also have players who are taller, stronger, physical and athletic.
In order to compete the Wildcats, often at a distinct height advantage in particular, have to resort to playing near flawless basketball.
When they do that, Henderson said, the Wildcats are going to be in the mix.
“I thought we had a lot of missed opportunities,” said Henderson who is in his 13th season and owns 174 wins. “We got in positions we wanted to be in and then we didn’t finish and they really took advantage.
“I felt we were right there with them,” Henderson said. “At halftime we were down seven but we just had so many wasted opportunities around the basket.
“You look at our record—and I know our record is our record—but we’ve been in a position to win in every game we’ve played. For us we’ve got to take on the mentality that we’ve got to commit to the little things: we’ve just got to find a way to power through and be mentally tough and see it all the way to the end.”
So, when his team persisted and finally caught the Packers thanks to Amari Jordan making one of two free throws Henderson felt good about his team’s chances.
However, the Packers’ Kanilyn Jones then took over the game. Jones, a senior guard who transferred from Brooks County where he averaged 17 points per game last year, led a game-closing 11-0 run to clinch it. Jones, who had a game high 26 points, scored nine of the 11.
Coming off a 6-23 season the Packers (9-2, 2-0) have benefitted from the addition of Jones and fellow guard Marcus Moore, a transfer from Grayson, who added 14 points.
Richmond Hill now faces its most daunting stretch of the season with the next five games on the road. The Wildcats are at Camden County on Friday night followed by games at Tift County, Valdosta, Colquitt and Lowndes. The next home game is Jan. 28 against Camden.