ROCKINGHAM — Lumberton coach Ted Gaskins had the matchup with Richmond Senior circled on his calendar for a while.

Not because he takes extra pleasure in beating the Raiders, but because he wants to win so he doesn’t have to hear about losing the game when he visits friends and family.

Gaskins won’t have a problem this go around as the Pirates rallied from a first-quarter deficit and routed Richmond 91-68 in a Southeastern Conference clash Friday night at Raider Gymnasium.

“I didn’t want them to say anything to me next week when I come back for a birthday party,” Gaskins said. “I don’t mind them talking about football. I told the team this was going to be our hell week and if we were going to lose a game, let it be against Hoke.”

Christian McRae made sure his coach was going to be on the right side of the scoreboard. McRae scored 13 of his 19 points in the third quarter as Lumberton stretched its six-point halftime lead to 13. McRae didn’t miss a shot in the frame, which included a 3-pointer and several drives into the lane against the taller Raider defenders.

“I told the team at halftime that the first three minutes of the second half were going to be important,” Richmond coach David Laton said. “It seemed like they didn’t miss anything in the third quarter.”

Gaskins felt the Pirates (10-6, 2-1) should have had a larger advantage at halftime and told his team as much in the locker room.

“I told the kids we missed free throws and we should have been up by 15,” Gaskins said. “I think that fired the kids up. I knew we could take them off the dribble because I didn’t think they were that good defensively man-to-man. Our plan was to penetrate and score, penetrate and pitch it out or back cut them.”

Things went from bad to worse for Richmond (11-2, 1-2) in the fourth quarter. Jordan Richardson drew a foul on McRae near halfcourt but was whistled for a technical moments later, which was his fifth foul. The Raiders were already shorthanded, playing without Shydamion Ellerbe, who missed the contest because of an illness.

“I told the team after the game that this was my fault,” Laton said. “I didn’t have them prepared to play tonight. I can count on my hand how many times my teams have given up 90 points in a game.

“When we were running with them, we were fine. But we stopped running and it’s my fault. Maybe I should have substituted more.”

The Raiders will have the chance to get the loss out of their heads with a nonconference game at 7:30 p.m. today at Union Pines.

“I think it’s good to play,” Laton said. “Shydamion should be able to go. The good news is we have another seven conference games to play.”

Lumberton's girls suffer first SEC loss

The Pirates' girls basketball team couldn't overcome a fast start by the opposition in Rockingham Friday, falling at Richmond, 57-45.

Azaya Graham was the only Lumberton (10-6, 2-1) player in double figures with 14 points.

Reach Shawn Stinson at 910-997-3111 or at sstinson@heartlandpublications.com