Raymond shows Durham they are strong teams

By Matt Pascarella

As the season winds down, the Jordan-Small Middle School Raymond Roadrunner boys’ and girls’ basketball teams hit the court in a home game against the Durham Tigers on Wednesday, Jan 26 and showed their competitors they have skills and strength.

Raymond seventh-grader Isabella Vassoler keeps the ball
close as she drives by an opponent to get a better shot during a
middle school basketball game against Durham at Jordan-Small
Middle School on Jan. 26. Despite a strong effort, the
Roadrunners ' girls' team fell to Durham, 42-11.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA

The boys pulled ahead early and remained there. They left Durham in the dust 27-12.

The girls fought hard during their game, but Durham won 42-11.

Boys

The Roadrunners started strong and stayed in front of Durham the entire game.

Raymond eighth-grader Braedyn Elwell put them on the scoreboard.

From that point on, Raymond got rebounds, got in front of the ball and had strong defense to keep Durham from getting ahead. Raymond was hungry for the ball and capitalized on any Durham errors.

The Roadrunners moved the ball well and snagged a few turnovers. At the half, Raymond led 12-4.

In the second half, Raymond defense prevented Durham scoring opportunities by blocking shots and grabbing rebounds. In the third quarter, the Roadrunners led by 10 and remained hungry.

The Tigers began to make a comeback, but time was not on their side.

Raymond eighth-grader Benjamin Bancroft was glad they won and said they had a size advantage over Durham which was a contributing factor to the win.

“Durham is a scrappy bunch,” said Raymond boys’ basketball coach Andrew Wing. “Going into the fourth quarter it was only a six-point game ... we brought it in the fourth quarter.”

Wing added he was impressed by Raymond defense which was really good the whole game.

Girls

Durham jumped out to a large lead as they grabbed every turnover chance they could.

Raymond kept their heads up and did not get discouraged. Eighth-grader Jada Stewart put some points up for the Roadrunners.

Raymond was hungry too and grabbed rebounds. They took multiple shots at the hoop, but not everything was falling. At the half, Durham had a 23-6 lead.

Raymond fought the entire game. They scored more in the second half. Raymond’s effort was there, but Durham had a big lead.

Raymond did capitalize on any Durham mistakes. The Roadrunner hunger remained until the final buzzer.

“I feel like we did better than the last time we played them,” said Raymond seventh-grader Isabella Vassoler. “We could have moved more, and got better shots, but we did okay. At the end we started dribbling better, we were passing better and moving.”

Vassoler said they played better in the second half than in the beginning.

“In a game like that we knew weren’t going to come out with a ‘W’, so I needed them to chip away as the game goes on and just try to get better in every facet,” said Raymond girls’ basketball coach Jim Beers. “[Raymond] got a little more aggressive after halftime; didn’t make it any easier for [Durham].

Beers said Raymond is not a team that gives up and they always want to get better. <