Reloaded Rebels look to defend region title
By Stan Caldwell
Dispatch Correspondent
The Richton boys kicked off what they hope is another strong basketball season in proper fashion, getting past Jefferson Davis County 70-65 last weekend in the Warrior Classic at Warrior Gym on the campus of Oak Grove High School.
It was the kind of start to the season that makes head coach Otto Crawford think his team might better last season’s 25-8 record that ended in the quarterfinal round of the Class 2A playoffs.
“I was the first game for a lot of our guys,” said Crawford. “We’re a little young, but we’re going to do our best to push through.”
The Jaguars provided a good measuring stick for a season opener, bringing an athletic team with a good outside-shooting game to the mid-morning tipoff.
Both teams started slowly, but JDC was the first team to get its offense going. After missing their first eight shots from the field, the Jags reeled off five straight baskets via the fast break, then swished three 3-point shots a 14-3 run to assume a big early lead.
The Rebels didn’t help themselves in the first quarter, turning the ball over 10 times in the period, and they finished with 28 turnovers for the game.
“We’ve got a lot of kids who just now getting back into it,” said Crawford. “Daylin Carter, I mean, he just came off the football field fresh from (Friday) night. So I think once we get in rhythm and get balanced, we’ll be all right.”
Richton got off the mat in the second quarter, however, although initially the Rebels’ shooting woes continued. After converting just 2 of 11 shots in the opening period, they missed eight of their first nine shots in the second quarter.
But once the Rebels committed to attacking the basket, and once they ratcheted up their defense, easy shots started falling. Richton was 9-of-13 from the field to close the first half, most from inside four feet out from the basket.
“First game, a lot of that stuff, turnovers and all, are going to happen,” said Carter. “You’ve just got to clean it up and be prepared week-by-week.”
Sophomore Brayden Freeman got the ball rolling for Richton by hitting a short jump shot from the left side, drew a foul and made the free throw to cut JDC’s lead to 20-14.
Then Freeman converted from the same side 14 feet out, and got free for a layup. Freeman only averaged five minutes of playing time last season, but he was big for Richton with 13 points in the first half and 15 for the game.
Then it was senior Jaden Husband who took the lead for the Rebels taking a missed shot and burst ahead of the defense for a fast-break layup, ignited a 15-0 run to close the period, which ended with Richton leading at halftime 32-27.
“It was first game, coming in, we didn’t know quite what to expect,” said Husband. “It took us some time to get going. We just have to get our stuff together, talk a little more, establish a little more team chemistry.
“This was just the first game, but it gives us something to improve on, and get better as we go along.”
Husband is one of the players who is being asked to step up to replace departed standout Dakota Amos, who averaged 13.5 points and 7.7 rebounds per game last season.
Husband answered the call with a team-high 16 points after averaging 8.2 points a game last season.
While Amos was the focus of the offense for Richton last season, Crawford feels like he has more options this year.
“It’s more of a team concept this year,” said Crawford. “It’s a team chemistry, where everybody is able to touch the ball, and know what to do. We thrive on having active hands, active feet, to get deflections and fast-break baskets.”
Carter also had 15 points for the Rebels, which is saying a lot, considering he played in Richton’s season-ending double-overtime defeat in the opening round of the Class 1A football playoffs. He also averaged 13.5 points last season.
“Although Dakota’s gone, this group, we’ve been playing together since junior high,” said Carter. “I think this is the beginning of something great. We’ve got to keep our heads up.
“We’ve got a lot of stuff to improve on, but that’s what first games are for. We’ve just got to get back at practice and get into basketball mode.”
It took Carter the first half to get his basketball legs back, going scoreless in the first half. But after halftime, it was Carter who carried the Rebels.
Carter got a fast-break layup, then Husband put back a miss, and once again Richton attacked the basket not only to make easy shots, but to draw fouls. And the Rebels made Jeff Davis County pay, converting 16 of 27 free throws for the game.
After JDC cut the Rebel lead to 36-35, Richton outscored the Jaguars 21-5 to finish the third quarter and lead 57-41 heading into the final period.
The Rebels were efficient offensively in the second half, shooting 44.1 percent (15 of 34) for the half.
“That’s what we thrive on, pressuring the ball in our 1-2-2 press,” said Crawford. “Then winning the ball with the outlet in transition. We’re a smaller team, with fewer numbers, so that’s how we have to play.
“If we can win the transition battle, and win the turnovers – deflections and tipped balls – and get easy baskets, we can be very successful.”
Richton had plenty of opportunities to get into transition, forcing 14 turnovers in the second quarter and 33 for the game.
“I like the way we spread the points,” Carter said. “None of us are too selfish. We like to spread the ball around and look for whoever’s open.”
That will be the blueprint the Rebels use moving forward, as they try to make that next step and get back to Jackson for the MHSAA Final Four for the first time since they won the 2A state title in 2003.
“It goes back to that chemistry,” Husband said. “I think once we get a few games in, we’ll start to come together.”
Jeff Davis County used the 3-ball to get back into the game in the first three minutes of the fourth quarter, and closed Richton’s lead to 59-55 with five minutes to play.
But Carter took a long outlet pass, after a foul in the backcourt, for an uncontested layup, and the Rebels were able to close it out for their first win of the season.
Richton also returns senior B.J. Brown, who chose to wait until Monday to come over from football. Brown averaged 8.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.0 steals last season. The Rebels will also be small, as Carter at 6-foot-1 is their tallest player.
“It’s going to be tough competition in Region 8 in 1A,” said Crawford. “It didn’t get any easier with us dropping down (from Class 2A). With Resurrection, Taylorsville, and you also can’t count Lumberton out.
“But I think if we stay healthy and get our group to mesh a little better, with a little more practice time, we’ll be all right.”
Richton defeated Mount Olive in its home debut on Tuesday, then lost to George County on the road Wednesday. They will look to improve to 3-1 against St. Andrew’s on Thursday.
