Richmond guard Marybeth Sloat (10) gets control of the ball in front of Winthrop’s Natalie Frost (12). (Bob Conn / The Times Record)
RICHMOND — Throughout the 2018/19 Mountain Valley Conference girls’ basketball season, Richmond coach Mike Ladner has kept things positive for his Bobcats.
There have been trying times, like an 0-6 start and an inconsistent offense, and good times — a long mid-season winning streak that put Richmond back into the swing of things. Toward the end of the year, the Bobcats have battled some of the top MVC teams tooth and nail, with Ladner continuing to prop his team up.
On Tuesday against 15-2 Winthrop, the Richmond coach saw his team turn in a solid effort before falling, 45-44, giving the Bobcats an 8-10 mark. Now, Richmond will await the final Class C South Heal Points Standings, with a road preliminary contest in its future.
Against the talented Ramblers, Richmond fought back from double-digit deficits in both the first and second halves. Trailing 41-30 after three quarters, five quick points from senior Hannah Moholland had the Bobcats down just six. Bryannah Shea came off the Richmond bench to lead the fourth-quarter charge with six of her 11 points, including a pair of free throws with 1:37 left to bring the hosts to within a point, 45-44.
But, Winthrop (16-2) spread the floor, knocking off most of the remaining time before a long heave from Bryanne Lancaster fell well short.
“Anybody can beat anybody on any given night, and tonight we held the number two seed right there. We had our chances,” said Ladner. Our goal, not knowing who we will play next, is to go to Augusta. We don’t fear anybody, it is just a matter of executing.”
“We had a thriller with them last year, and tonight it came right down to the wire. (Richmond) climbed back, and I have a feeling we will see them again,” said Winthrop coach Joe Burnham, whose Ramblers will likely enter the C South Tournament as the No. 2 seed. “We are proud of what we have accomplished this year. The girls have worked hard. But, we can’t endure too many more of these.”
The first quarter showed no signs of this MVC matchup ending in a close nail-biter. Winthrop darted out to an 18-8 lead behind a pair of 3-pointers from Kena Souza and four points each from Layne Audet and Natalie Frost.
Richmond appeared in more trouble when Moholland picked up her third foul early in the second quarter with the Bobcats trailing by 12.
But, Macy Carver took over inside for Richmond, picking up eight first-half points, and the Ramblers went cold, making just 2-of-9 shots and turning the ball over four times. Still, Richmond trailed 24-17 at the break.
Winthrop’s Aaliyah Wilson-Falcone (5) and Richmond’s Hannah Moholland chase a loose ball during first-half MVC girls basketball action in Richmond on Tuesday. Moholland had 14 points, but her Bobcats fell to Wilson-Falcone’s Ramblers, 45-44. (Bob Conn / The Times Record)
“We have had that issue this year, extending the lead then falling back,” Burnham said. “I don’t know if it is complacency, or if it is on the coaches. (Monday) we had 15-point lead, and late in the game we were down a point. Tonight, we had the same thing, up like 13 and at the end fighting for our lives. We can’t do that in Augusta.”
“Once we go into that shell where we can’t shoot, we need to relax, come out and get back to what we do.” Moholland said after scoring just three points in the first half.
Hot again
Both teams found an offensive rhythm in the third quarter, combining for 30 points. Winthrop maintained a lead ranging from eight to 12 points in the quarter, while Richmond stayed within shouting distance as Moholland delivered six points and Carver four. The Ramblers led by 11, 41-30, after 24 minutes.
Back came Richmond, using a 10-2 run to move within three points, 43-40, with 3:14 remaining. Shea scored the final four points of the spurt, and watched as Marybeth Sloat rattled home a short shot to make for a 43-42 contest.
Winthrop’s Maddie Perkins scored her lone points eight seconds later for a 45-42 lead, but Carver coolly sank a pair at the line to bring about the final 90 seconds.
“We just stuck with it, slowed it down with our offense and made good passes after giving up the ball in the first half,” said Moholland, who led Richmond with 14 points. “We can beat Winthrop next time. Today was close. We are confident.”
“It is always a close game with Richmond,” said Audet, who paced the balanced Ramblers with 10 points. “They just fought back, and that was a good job on their part. We had to hang onto the lead, and we did that by one point. This has been an incredible season for us, and it means so much. We are excited about the future. Another game with Richmond would be intense.”
Winthrop was 18-of-50 from the field (36 percent), while the Bobcats were 15-of-40 (37 percent). The Ramblers made 5-of-9 at the charity stripe, with Richmond going 9-of-14.
Jillian Schmelzer and Souza had nine points each in the win, with Frost scoring all seven of her points in the first half. Aaliyah Wilson-Falcone added six points, eight rebounds, five assists and three steals, with Katie Perkins chipping in four steals and three assists.
Lancaster had a team-high eight rebounds along with three steals and five points for Richmond, with Carver adding 12 points and five boards. Senior Caitlin Kendrick dished out a game-high seven assists.
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