From the moment of the opening whistle, the game between the Drifter boys’ varsity basketball team and visiting Rappahannock Raiders resembled a track meet. For four quarters, the Raiders never showed any signs of they would relinquish the lead or any part of the word “momentum.”
“We attack teams when have the opportunity; however, sometimes we’re a little fast and have to watch how we control the ball,” Raider boys’ varsity head coach Brody Jackson said.

In the first quarter, the Raiders set the tone with a fast-paced transition game, scoring from both the low post with Da’ Jour Bullock and two jumpers by William Johns. The Drifters managed to keep the score close at the end of the quarter, at 4-9. In light of the action-packed atmosphere surrounding the Northern Neck match-up, fans for both teams screamed passionately, as though it was a championship game.
In the second quarter the Raiders continued to methodically build their lead, using all five starters to score at various parts of the parameter. After Chris Gaines intercepted an inbound pass from William Johns, Shayvon Murphy promptly scored two jumpers in a row to extend the Raider lead to 18-7. In the latter part of the quarter, the Drifters managed to score two jumpers Keane Foster. However, the Raider responded with three lay-ups to extend their lead to 26-14.
Behind by 12 points at the start of the third quarter, the Drifters continued to search for a way to stop the onslaught of Raider offense, but to their dismay the Raiders were eager to score more points. After Foster nailed a jumper and Tim McDowney and Randy Ruczynski scored two foul shots, the Raiders responded with a 3-point basket from Bullock to extend their lead to 34-18.
In the fourth quarter, both teams continued to battle as if the game were close, but the reality of a 17-point Raider lead soon came to fruition, as the Raiders won 53-36. Raider forward Chris Gaines led all scores with 14, while his teammate Deondre Garner finished the game with 10 points.
The Drifters are scheduled to host Northumberland on Friday and travel to King George on the following day for a weekend match-up. The Raiders will host Washington & Lee Friday.